KNYSNA | PLETTENBERG BAY | SEDGEFIELD NEWS - It's been nearly a year since we first went into lockdown on 26 March 2020. And some nine months since we were prompted to amalgamate Knysna-Plett Herald and George Herald as a result of the pandemic.
It was a necessary but awkward compromise which made sense businesswise, but considerably less so in terms of maintaining a unique news platform for our special neck of the woods.
It is with great pleasure and pride thus, that we announce the return of KPH this week as a segregated and independent news source for the greater Knysna area and Plettenberg Bay.
The inaugural edition of KPH rolled off the press on 23 February 1984 - which makes our newspaper just over 37 years old. Staunch survivor of natural disasters as Knysna itself has proven to be, the paper's archives unfortunately did not weather the mid-1990's flood too well which laid waste to our first offices in Pitt Street.
The move to Court Square in Spring Street lasted until 2010, when Group Editors acquired the historical edifice on the corner of Queen and Springs streets that now serves as its home.
On August 1985, Group Editors became the first newspaper group in the Southern Cape to feature a full-colour front-page image: that of Dynasty soapie star Linda Evans. The first front-page full-colour advertisement in the Southern Cape was placed two weeks later for Orsmond Motors.
Across the nearly four decades of its existence, KPH has moved from B&W to colour and strip-cutting to digital printing, but there are constants. Such as Boniswa Zwayena - still welcoming visitors at the front desk as she has been since 1995.
And the continuing commitment to keep the people of greater Knysna, Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay informed of the more salient newsworthy aspects developing in their district.
Herewith therefore, a hearty welcome back from us in our original form to all our readers and an equally warm invitation to everyone to re-join us in making the best of your local paper. So please do let us know of any news breaking in your neighbourhood.
Write to us to gloat, gripe, or express glee about whatever you think should be shareable. And very importantly, book an abundance of advertisements with us so your business can thrive and we can billow out to our full former glory in no time at all.
Happy perusing your paper and best regards
Chris du Plessis, Editor - Knysna-Plett Herald
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