KNYSNA NEWS - A formal petition to allow fire victims of Knysna and surrounds to jointly control and manage the distribution of donations sent to Knysna after the June fires has been launched, and is quickly gaining support from concerned residents.

Ewan Seton, together with Siena van Schoor, Susan Campbell and others who lost their homes, and a group of prominent Knysna residents who were affected by the fires that started on 7 June last year, started an association called OneKnysna#OK – a support group for fire victims, started by fire victims in September 2017.

The petition was launched on Wednesday 24 January when it came to light that donations meant for fire victims were being removed from the Woodmill Walk shopping centre where it was stored. 

According to Seton, the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the SA Red Cross (SARC) removed the goods from the facility without consulting One Knysna despite being requested to do so and despite One Knysna being used by the Red Cross in Knysna to facilitate the distribution of goods for Fire Victims that they had in storage over December and January.

 The Red Cross officials from Cape Town could not confirm what will happen to the donations in the future.

“When I drove past the centre and saw DSD vehicles loading up the donations despite our request to be part of the process, I contacted the rest of our team and we decided that we could not let it go – not while there are so many victims in our town that might still benefit from the goods,” he said.

Seton and the members of OneKnysna#OK do not want the goods to be distributed without representatives of the fire victims being part and parcel of the decision making process, as they believe passionately that these donations should remain in Knysna and that fire victims should have a say in what happens to these donations.

“The goods were donated specifically to help the victims of the Knysna fire and we feel that these goods can still make a huge difference in the lives of the people that need aid. The distribution of the goods should encompass not only fire victims but the needy as well in Knysna and surrounds. Once we have distributed the clothing to absolutely everyone that needs it, we also believe that whatever is left could be used constructively to help in some other ways,” said Seton.

Seton believes any clothing that remains could possibly be leveraged for additional forms of support for fire victims. “If we could exchange what is left for vouchers or even cash, it will go a long way to assist fire victims in future. From buying other items they might need, to channelling the cash into other relief efforts like paying for the removal of rubble from properties where the owners can no longer afford to pay for these services – our group believes that is what is right. The donations were meant for Knysna, they were not meant to be sent elsewhere,” he said.

According to Seton it is the Red Cross’ mandate to only distribute goods donated to them, they cannot leverage donated goods . “If they do not distribute it here there is always a chance that it will be sent elsewhere, that is why it is so important that fire victims be given a joint say in what happens to the goods and that the Red Cross does not see the goods as having been donated to them to dispose of as they wish,” he added.

The petition has gathered 738 signatures since starting on Wednesday at 12:00 and over 9 000 views, the last count, which was done earlier today, 26 January. Seton has today sent the petition to officials at DSD and SARC, pleading with them to allow fire victims, together with OneKnysna#OK, to control and decide what happens to these donations in conjunction with the Red Cross.

“We expect a formal reply to the petition by no later than 12:00 on Wednesday 31 January. The petition remains open and we are hoping to be at more than 1 000 names by then, we are overwhelmed by the support so far,” he said.

To get involved, contact Seton on 072 682 8982, or visit the Facebook/One Knysna #OK. 

Vehicles from the Department of Social Development (DSD) load up donations at the Woodmill Walk shopping centre on Wednesday 24 January. Photos: Supplied

ARTICLE: STEFAN GOOSEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD

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