I told several people that the Knysna Municipality would arrive with a stick and a carrot (or, to one lady in the Council tea room this morning, i used the term ‘knife and butter’). I said they’d rough me up, try discredit me, then offer something to the public so as to pretend to be nice.

“Deputy Executive Mayor Peter Myers [who was not involved in last night’s propaganda campaign] invites all residents of WARD 10 to attend a disaster feedback meeting on Monday, 03 July 2017, 17:30 at the Knysna Angling Club, for a briefing on the current situation following the disaster.”

My goal was to force a meeting. I’m unsure if mission is accomplished as ‘disaster feedback’ sounds generalised but i expect that will now include answering difficult questions posed by Knysna Fire’s homeless.

Survivors, we’ve got 5 days to get talking to each other, not to share misery stories but to be productive as we look forward to the future. The goal here shouldn’t be to try slip up our government but to sincerely gain answers and understanding. Our queries can be emailed beforehand, hopefully guaranteeing result at the meeting.

NB: This morning’s Community Services Section 80 meeting at the Knysna Municipality should have been fill of news about the fire. After all, the department, headed illegally by Director Dawie Adonis, is responsible for “Disaster Management, Fire and Rescue, Traffic and Law Enforcement, Parks, Waste Management and Cleansing.” However, nothing was included in the agenda!!!