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KNYSNA NEWS – Hornlee-based women's organisation Changes of Knysna marched through the streets of their community last weekend, calling out for change within the community and an end to drug abuse in Hornlee before handing over memorandums to various authoritative organisations at the Hornlee Sport Grounds.

While other Hornlee residents were enjoying a Sunday afternoon siesta, Changes of Knysna demanded an urgent halt to substance abuse in their community.

Participants gathered outside the Pride Store in Davidson Street on Sunday 13 June and the march got underway at 14:00.

The procession, led by a convoy of vehicles from the Knysna Police Station and the Western Cape Traffic Department, proceeded around the back end of Hornlee up Davidson/Calander streets. 

The march makes its way down Calander Street with banners speaking out strongly against drug abuse. 

Armed with a megaphone they turned into Sunridge Street, handing out pamphlets and flyers detailing the work they do among the youth and other residents along the way. At the sport grounds, at 16:00, Changes of Knysna handed over five memorandums to local organisations detailing the changes they want within their community. 

Knysna Mayor Ricky van Aswegen received the memorandum addressed to the municipality and delivered a speech in which he guaranteed changes would be made in Hornlee. 

The memorandum for the Knysna Magistrate's Court and Department of Justice was received by Knysna Magistrate's Court manager Buyiswa Mayekiso. Warrant Officer Chris Appels received the memorandum on behalf of the Knysna Police Station, but there were no representatives from the Western Cape Education Department or the Department of Correctional Services present to receive the memorandums intended for them.

Photo gallery: Saying "no" to drugs

All organisations have been given 14 days from the date of the handover to respond to Changes of Knysna.

Some of the items in Changes of Knysna’s memorandums were, but not limited to:

Department of Correctional Services:

• “We as the community ask for programmes and workshops for our ex-convicts as a form of rehabilitation. Programmes to gradually integrate them back into society would contribute to a better community and develop them as persons.”

Knysna Magistrate’s Court and Department of Justice:

• “We ask that the administration department works hand in hand with Knysna SAPS with regards to protection orders applications, etc..

• “We request workshops for our community where rights and responsibilities be discussed with regards to domestic violence, gender-based violence and rape.

• “We ask that poor conduct of officials be addressed where failure on their part to do their jobs correctly leads to throwing out of cases/important paperwork that causes stressful delays of cases.”

Western Cape Education Department:

• “We as a community request skills/technical school since practical subjects like needlework and woodwork have fallen away at schools. These types of skills are lacking amongst our youth and need to be instilled especially for those persons who are more practical than academic.

• “We request a bigger special needs school. It is a need in our community where these schools are mostly out of town.

• “We request after-school programmes for drop-outs. Too many children drop out of schools for various reasons and need options of programmes to ensure that they don’t fall victim to social ills when they feel lost or forgotten in our society.”

Knysna Police Station

• “We request a satellite police station/sub-station eve in the form of a container in one or more strategic areas.

• “We need the public to be educated around procedures in the charge office and made aware of the availability of the victim support unit.

• “We demand more visible policing in our community.

• “We request a safe house for abused women and children.”

Knysna Municipality

• “We need more land to be made available to address our community’s housing issues fully.

• “We need more skills opportunities for our youth. A skills training centre is needed dearly.

• “We demand that Knysna Municipality refrain from installing prepaid water meters against the will of the homeowner.

• “We need better road infrastructure.”

These are not all of the requests made in the memorandums, these have been selected and edited for clarity.

Participants in the march carried banners and signage strongly opposing substance abuse. Photos: Blake Linder

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