KNYSNA NEWS - This week the Knysna municipal manager Kam Chetty again stressed that the municipal fire report is based on a scientific methodology that included a thorough analysis of aerial and ground evidence and eyewitness accounts, and that the municipality stands by its findings of the origin of the Knysna fires of 7 June as set out in its fire report.
Chetty said it is unfortunate that Dr David Klatzow's report is "one sided" and purports to apportion blame on Knysna municipality, and that during presenting the AfriForum fire report, Klatzow said the Knysna municipality should not have been involved in its own report.
"In coming to our conclusion, our investigation covered a number of probabilities, including the possibility of lightning strikes. It is of great concern that Dr Katzow is blaming the Knysna municipality for the fire," said Chetty.
Full report or PAIA
In response to Chetty's comments, Klatzow emphasised that there were huge differences in the two reports regarding the Elandskraal fire, and that the Knysna municipality's actions before the fires of 7 June were not investigated, but only the cause of said fires.
"The Knysna municipality needs to release its full report seeing as the Powerpoint presentation that is available has no substance to it. They must also name the scientists and experts who worked on their report.
"If they do not release their official report into the public domain soon, AfriForum will ask for the report under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), which will give the municipality 30 days to comply," said Klatzow.
Asked why he said the municipality should not have been involved in their own fire investigation, Klatzow referred back to what he said during his media conference releasing the AfriForum report. "An investigation cannot be credible if the person or organisation doing the investigating is involved in the incident themselves."
Chetty disagrees
However, Chetty says the municipality's bylaw relating to community fire safety makes provision for the municipality to have been involved in its own report.
"Chapter 2 reads as follows: 'Administrative Provisions, (6) Authority to investigate: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law, a controlling authority has the authority to investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of any fire or other threatening danger'."
The municipality is compiling a manual on how to deal with fires of this magnitude in the future, which will be shared with the fire management community within the district.
• Read more articles about the Knysna fires here.
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