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KNYSNA NEWS - A life-size "guardian angel" stands watch over a Garden of Remembrance at Narnia guesthouse and farm in Knysna – on the exact spot where a young Malawian girl lost her life during the June blaze of 2017.

This garden is not only in memory of little Catherine Matope (4), who was found next to a dam on the property on 8 June 2017, but is meant as a tribute to all those who lost their lives during that tumultuous week the fires ravaged many parts of Knysna.

Knysna victims
One of these is Catherine’s mother Enala Manda (22). The young mother was found alive close to the property on the same day as her daughter – badly burnt and searching in vain for Catherine –by an Allsound security company operations manager reacting to a callout. She later died from her injuries in the Tygerberg Hospital.

Click here for photos of the garden.

One of the reasons Stella and Richard Sohn, owners of Narnia, decided to erect the monument is because both Catherine and Enala spent a lot of time with them on the farm. “We employed Enala’s brother Timothy some time ago and both Enala and Catherine used to come visit him here. Blessing, the father and husband, also worked nearby.

"Catherine loved sitting on the swing by the dam… the exact place she was found that day,” said Stella at the unveiling of the sculpture on Sunday 3 June.

Fig tree in memoriam
Blessing could not attend the ceremony, she said, and instead Timothy (Nyirenda) stood in. A wild fig tree was planted for his sister and niece, and a pot plant with a commemorative plaque can be found outside De Oude Fabriek.

Flata Nyirenda, Timothy’s wife, said that family and friends in the local Malawian community still miss Enala and Catherine very much. 

“We wish for their souls to continue to rest in peace even though our hearts are still broken for them. This is a good way to remember them and we want to thank the Sohns,” she said.

Stella said they wanted to “do something after the Armageddon of June 2017 to make Narnia special again”.

Small forest in the making
“We lost our home of 29 years and the property was basically destroyed. It was always such a magical and happy place. We want the angel to look after all those fire victims who lost their lives. Along with the angel we have planted a tree for these victims, and I want there to be a little forest to remember them by one day,” said Stella.

She said that the families of the other people who perished during the fires – including Johnston family and volunteer firefighter Bradley Richards – could not attend the ceremony either, but that they did take part in the tree-planting beforehand.

As the sun came out on Sunday 3 June, after rain had fallen in Knysna for almost the entire weekend, family and friends of the deceased Malawian mother and child gathered at the angel to pay their respects.

Elandskraal victims
Madre Johnston (33), who was eight months pregnant, husband Tony (34) and their toddler son Michael were caught by the raging forest fires while fleeing for safety from their Elandskraal smallholding. Even more tragic is that this young family died on young Michael’s third birthday.

For each of the Johnstons a coastal silver oak tree was planted, said Stella. “The family also gave us a little olive tree for the unborn baby. They said it was because Tony used to love climbing them as a youngster.” A pot plant with inscribed plaque stands in front of the Shell garage in Main Road, also in their memory.

Plettenberg Bay victim
Richards (24), from Plettenberg Bay, was part of a team of volunteers busy with rescue operations between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna when the flames got to him. He later succumbed to smoke inhalation and severe burns in the George Mediclinic. “His parents gave us a yellowwood to plant for him, and his plaque can be found on a pot in front of St George’s Anglican Church in Knysna,” said Stella.

Just a glimpse of what the Sohn's were left with after the fires. They have already rebuilt and replanted much of what was destroyed. Photo: Supplied

Knysna victim
Despite her best efforts to get hold of family of the seventh victim, Stella regrets that there is no tree or plaque yet for truck driver Johan Blaauw (63), and appeals for them to come forward. 

“If his family reads this, I would love for them to contact me so we can plant a tree for him, and erect a plaque for him too,” she said. Blaauw got trapped in the fire in the Concordia area in Knysna, and perished as he was trying to run away.

The Sohns said anyone who would like to spend a moment in the garden is welcome to do so by phoning 083 325 2581.

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