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KNYSNA NEWS - As the holiday season is now here and many people start putting up their Christmas trees, many victims of the June fires need to vacate their temporary accommodation to make way for prebooked holidaymakers.

Although some victims have made arrangements for alternate temporary accommodation for the upcoming holiday season, there are still two options for those who are still struggling.

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The Knysna municipality would like to remind fire victims that they may erect a temporary structure on their fire-destroyed properties. 

“All they need to do is contact our acting control officer Ricardo Pedro on 044 302 6249, or email rpedro@knysna.gov.za. Alternatively they can contact the building control officer Randolph Dames on rdaames@knysna.gov.za to receive the necessary permission,” said municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhout in a press release earlier this month.

He said, “Should a fire victim not own property but is still in need of temporary accommodation over the holiday season, we suggest they call Gerhard Pepler on 082 759 5962. 

Pepler will be able to assist with short-term campsites at the Wittedrift High School (Plettenberg Bay) over the upcoming holiday season.”

Knysna-Plett Herald tried contacting Pedro via telephone on numerous occasions but was unable to reach him for comment.

This is because the municipality is now officially closed on Friday, 22 December.

It is not known whether Knysna fire victims did contact the municipality.

However according to Pepler [Plettenberg Bay] there have been many people who have enquired about the campsites on offer, but so far no fire victims have made use of the available sites.

"Although we can offer them a campsite at a discounted rate of R75 per person per day, nobody has taken us up on our offer so far. I think it is mostly because nobody has the necessary equipment. 

"We would really like to help where possible as we have lots of space here. I urge people to contact me as soon as they can," said Pepler, adding that the campsites all have power outlets and clean ablution facilities.

Pepler will be still available during December.

The Knysna municipality, together with the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative (GRRI), extend their heartfelt thanks to Wittedrift High School and the many businesses and property owners who have opened their homes to those left destitute after the devastating fires.

Following the disastrous fires, the office of Western Cape premier Helen Zille established the GRRI to assist with the rehabilitation of the area.

For further information on the work being done by this initiative, visit www.gardenrouterebuild.co.za. 

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