KNYSNA: Remembering the 2017 fires - One year later please tell us what the municipality has done:

The rebuild process following the devastation that the fire left in its wake is well under way. This is thanks to the strong collaboration between the different spheres of government, private sector, residents, religious organisations and several NGOs.

Council, in August 2017, approved the waiving of property rates for those affected by the Knysna fires for a one-year period. This contribution equates to R16.5-million. In addition, the municipality further provided waivers to demolition and planning applications and supported numerous relief efforts after the fires. More than R7.5-million was spent by the municipality in restoring electricity and water services.

Thanks to premier Helen Zille’s office, the Garden Route Rebuild Initiative (GRRI), in partnership with ourselves and other Garden Route municipalities, community members, and private sector donors, developed a rebuilding strategy for the area and identified where public and private funds can best be spent to counter the devastation of the fires.

After an initiative started by Jacaranda Radio in Pretoria, Marce Fire Fighting Technology donated a Unimog fire engine to our fire department. With the funds raised by Jacaranda FM, this vehicle was fitted with state-of-the-art firefighting equipment. The value of the donation exceeded R1-million. We are currently having another new fire engine built that should be delivered to us by the end of June. These two new vehicles will boost our fire department’s firefighting ability and enable them to render a better service to our community.

Our environmental management plan has assisted landowners with erosion control after the fires, providing 5 826 erosion logs totalling 34km and 45 750sq m of erosion blankets. They further completed an invasive plant control plan for all municipal-owned properties and cleared municipal owned land in Sedgefield.

Landowners were trained to implement erosion measures; many landowners are doing excellent work.

An alien removal project was launched and funded by private and public funds to reduce fire risk in future.

The department of environmental affairs has completed their hydro-seeding project. This project employed 45 local residents and hydro-seeded approximately 90ha.

Three detailed project proposals were submitted to national government for disaster funding totalling R37-million. These projects will create 600 temporary jobs.

The GRRI developed a comprehensive recovery strategy. This strategy answers how best to use this rebuild opportunity to create more jobs, address the lack of affordable accommodation in Knysna, and protect our environment to ensure that this does not happen again.

The GRRI laid the groundwork for long-term recovery of the area. Knysna Municipality will now mainstream the GRRI flagship projects in our integrated development plan and everyday business.

How many people lost homes?
Our records reflect 1 677 registered fire victims.

What is the total number of homes that were destroyed in Greater Knysna?

• 774 formal houses were damaged.
• 150 informal houses.
• 134 businesses were reported as destroyed.
• About 12 000ha plantation were destroyed.

How many are still homeless?
During September 2017 the GRRI undertook a survey to establish the need for temporary accommodation. At that time only two households indicated an interest in the temporary housing structure on a vacant erf option.

What has the municipality done, is going to do, to help those still without homes?
See previous response.

What happens to the many people who go to you as registered fire victims and ask for accommodation?
Please see previous response.

Prior to the fire, a partnership between the provincial department of human settlements and Knysna Municipality was already approved, which will result in an additional 312 housing units being added in Knysna.

Seven sites were further earmarked for developments, including 177 Breaking New Ground (BNG) units on five sites and 135 bonded units on two sites.

Allocation for these homes will be done according to the housing allocation policy and preference will be given to the elderly and disabled. About 36% of the bonded units will be financially linked individual subsidy units for individuals earning between R3 501 and R18 000/month, and about 38% will be open-market units for individuals earning R18 001/month upwards. 

Preference will be given to potential buyers already residing in the Knysna municipal area.

How many houses were built for fire victims, for example, the new homes in White Location?
The details of the destroyed White Location households were forwarded to provincial Human Settlements for inclusion in their provincial housing project for the area. This project is a direct response to the fires, and is already under way. It will rebuild 45 subsidised houses in response to the damaged homes and will provide 150 serviced sites to those whose informal structures were destroyed.

The resolution to fix/rebuild the 45 formal houses that was damaged/destroyed in the fires has been approved. We are in the process of compiling the contract and planning the project. Construction should start in June 2018.

The 150 serviced sites are expected to be completed soon. Currently an option is being investigated to resettle 159 families. An application to construct a further 53 top structures for the beneficiaries who qualified for it, is in the process. We expect approval by the end of July 2018.

How much money came into Knysna from which organisations/sources?
The municipality can only account for donated money that was paid into its banking account. We cannot report on pledges or donations to other organisations.

Out of all the tens of millions that were pledged and promised directly after the fires, Knysna Municipality only received R3-million.

This money was put, among other things, towards the stabilisation of the slopes that were left dangerously bare after the fires posing a serious danger of mudslides.

Money that province put toward fire-related projects is paid directly to the projects, and not via the municipality. We advise you to contact province directly pertaining to their contribution.

Where is this money now and what has it been used for. What happened to the committee that was going to administer and manage these funds? Please account for every financial donation.

A report on the R3-million mentioned above is being prepared by the CFO for council’s consideration.

Please update us on the material donations. By now there must be some sort of official audit of what came in and went out.

This function was transferred to the department of social development (DSD) in partnership with the Red Cross as the appropriate authority. We are awaiting the department’s final report in this regard. May we suggest that you contact the DSD directly?

How much revenue has been lost in rates that would have come from damaged properties?
As mentioned earlier, the Knysna council approved the waiving of property rates for one year. This contribution is valued at R16.5-million.

This does not include the loss in water and electricity sales nor the waiving of demolition and planning fees.

What has been done to help in this regard, like waiving rates, service delivery fees etc?
Council approved the waiving of property rates for one year and waived the demolition and planning applications.

The rebuilding of homes initially took off slowly but increased after the summer holiday. The municipality’s town planning and building control sections prioritise the needs of fire victims. At present, municipal personnel are continuing to work after hours in an attempt to fast-track the plan approvals.

From a government point of view, the primary focus in the recovery process is to eradicate the fuel load of invasive alien plant species. This process is estimated to last three years, provided that all applications for financial assistance are granted. The department of environmental affairs provided free materials in the form of erosion blankets and pesticide to property owners.

The municipality has undertaken a drive to ensure that property owners are aware of the municipal bylaws pertaining to fire breaks and our fire department conduct regular inspections to ensure that these fire breaks are in place.

What has the municipality done to repair the infrastructure of this town – from asbestos removal, to the burnt-out homes that remain on properties, to the environment.

The municipality spent over approximately R7.5-million in restoring electricity and water services.

Our environmental management plan has assisted landowners with erosion control after the fires, providing 5 826 erosion logs totalling 34km and 45 750sq m of erosion blankets. They further completed an invasive plant control plan for all municipal-owned properties and cleared municipal-owned land in Sedgefield.

Properties with asbestos were identified, and property owners were instructed to remove asbestos-contaminated rubble safely.

Most property owners complied, however, some asbestos rubble was illegally dumped on municipal land.

The department of local government transferred R2-million to Eden District Municipality (Eden DM) in April 2018 to coordinate the removal of the remaining asbestos-contaminated rubble in Knysna and Bitou.

Eden DM appointed a service provider for the removal of asbestos. The contractor will commence work in Knysna in June.

Is it true that many residents left Knysna after the fires for Sedgefield or Plett, or further afield. Do you have any statistics to measure this? It is a known fact that business owners have noticed fewer residents.

It is believed that some owners decided to relocate. It was also said that there was an upward market trend in rental and property sales for the lower to middle-income bracket. The municipality will not have these statistics and we would suggest that you speak to the property agents in town.

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