A town laid barren

Gallery Update Video

KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna, a town typically teeming with residents and tourists alike, was a shadow of its former self in the wake of the commencement of the lockdown on Friday 27 March.

Journalist Blake Linder took a drive through town to see to what extent it's impacted the town.

Taking a drive through town amid the chaotic calm that is the lockdown was somewhat surreal, especially on Waterfront Drive, where I only encountered one or two vehicles (of which police was one). As for the Waterfront itself, not a soul could be seen other than the private security guards and few residents of the houseboats docked at the Knysna Quays and marina, and where the restaurant fronts are typically packed with customers, not a single restaurant front was open.

Photo gallery: Lockdown - The empty streets of Knysna

The taxi rank and Woodmill Lane were somewhat busier, but nothing compared to their usual foot traffic on any given Sunday. The road up to White Location was also nowhere as busy as it usually is, but the township itself was a different picture as children still played soccer in the streets and people walked up and down the side of the road.

Leisure Isle was, much like the Waterfront, absolutely barren. The beaches that are usually abuzz with families on a Sunday afternoon were empty, not a person in sight.

Hornlee seemed to be a microcosm of what was to be seen around the rest of town, with those walking the streets mostly being essential workers on their way home, still donning their work uniforms, while here and there some people could be seen wandering the streets in the area.

There was further a minimal police and law enforcement presence around town, as I only encountered about 15 of these vehicles on the roads in the two or so hours I spent driving around.

Watch a video below: