KNYSNA NEWS - A recent story by investigative magazine Noseweek into the Knysna fires has incited more controversy around how the 7 June fires started – and who is responsible for damages claims that could amount to billions.
The Noseweek article, which appeared in the January edition, reports on an investigation, it says, that was conducted by scientists at the CSIR Meraka Institute, and according to the publication, “could open the floodgates to negligence lawsuits running into the billions against Knysna municipality and its fire brigade".
While the magazine says it got sight of the CSIR report from an attorney, it also says the CSIR informed them that the report was to be released around 6 January when they questioned why it was taking so long for the CSIR to do so.
This controversy, however, may prove to be premature as the Knysna-Plett Herald has learned that the report is nowhere near an official release.
The fire was the largest South Africa had seen since 1869, and sparked an unprecedented amount of resources and emergency services being pulled together nationally to battle the blaze and assist with relief efforts.
At the end of it, seven people tragically lost their lives while up to 1 000 properties were destroyed.
Noseweek further reported that the investigation set out to establish the origin of what is known as the western fire, which started in the forests of Elandskraal, between Sedgefield and Knysna, in the early hours of 7 June 2017.
Conflicting reports
As previously reported by Knysna-Plett Herald, in short, fire chief Clinton Manuel found in his report that the fire was caused by human activity, when flammable material was introduced into the Elandskraal area – pine cones were found where no pine trees grew and stacked fuel such as planks were found nearby.
He stated that weather conditions on the day fuelled this fire along.
In contrast, the AfriForum report – compiled by forensic scientist Dr David Klatzow – states that a lightning strike in the Elandskraal area months before 7 June caused underground smouldering which, fuelled by weather conditions on the day, flared into a full-blown blaze.
This opinion is shared by several other people, notably the engineer and scientist Dr Wallace Vosloo.
According to Noseweek, the CSIR conducted its own investigation after the municipal fire report and indicated that it was partly put together by information gathered or supplied by the CSIR.
An excerpt from the article reads: “The liberal name-dropping of the CSIR by Chetty and Manuel to give weight and authority to the fire chief’s report and its pine-cone conclusion did not go down well at the parastatal."
Knysna fire chief Clinton Manuel during the media release of the municipal fire report in mid-August last year. Photo: Stefan Goosen
Senior CSIR scientist quoted
“The CSIR responded by ordering its Meraka Institute to conduct a full investigation into the start of the western fire.
"The institute’s confidential report is authored by Dr Philip Frost, a senior scientist at the CSIR who heads a group at Meraka called Earth Observation Applications.
“This unit’s flagship project is the Advanced Fire Information System (Afis), which uses state-of-the-art technology to provide fire managers across the globe with information about prediction, detection, monitoring and assessment of wildfires.”
Noseweek quoted Frost as saying that his only involvement in the municipal report was to help Manuel "identify the location of where the drone footage was, to confirm that there was a drone that flew over an area where there was a smouldering patch".
Frost’s conclusion, as stated in the article, is that the fire was indeed the result of underground smouldering caused by lightning eight weeks before – which opens the door to damage claims from affected persons.
The Noseweek article also questioned the CSIR’s “secret report” via an editor’s note that asked why the report is being held back, “as the law dictates that notice of any litigation must be served within six months”.
CSIR denies release of report
When Knysna-Plett Herald contacted the CSIR, spokesperson Tendani Tsedu said, “The CSIR has not released any report on the Knysna fire. There is no media release. I really don’t know where Noseweek received the information from.”
Noseweek editor Martin Welz said his publication never said there had been a news release from the CSIR.
"Quite the contrary. We identified our source of the information as an attorney that had been given sight of the report.
"We did query why the CSIR was taking so long to release it. A CSIR spokesperson told us it was expected on about the 6th of January,” said Welz.
Meanwhile, Tsedu reiterated the report has not been officially released as it is scientific of nature and “due diligence needs to be done”.
Tsedu added that there was never a timeframe given in which to publish the report, and that it will be made public once it is ready.
An interview with Frost was also not possible at the time, he told Knysna-Plett Herald.
AfriForum spokesperson Reint Dykema said the organisation has been eagerly awaiting the CSIR’s full report.
'Lightning-theory confirmed'
“From the Noseweek article it seems as though the lightning strike and prolonged underground smouldering theory is confirmed, with the CSIR report being more in depth with newer data which is scientifically proven.
“After the CSIR report is officially released, only then will AfriForum decide how to carry on with the issues at hand. Such a decision will be made in consultation with the Elandskraal community,” he said.
Knysna municipal manager Kam Chetty said the municipality is also eagerly awaiting the release of the CSIR report.
“Once we have received and studied the report we will issue our comments.
"Discussing a report that we have not seen can only lead to confusion and further complicate a sensitive situation,” he added.
Knysna-Plett Herald was unable to reach Dr Klatzow at the time of going to print, but will ensure a follow-up with him and the relevant stakeholders once the CSIR’s report is officially released.
* According to its website, “Noseweek is South Africa's only investigative magazine and features irreverent, independent, inside information about business, the professions, politics and society in South Africa.
"Published monthly it is essential reading for anybody interested in what's going on in the rainbow nation. Noseweek is owned by Chaucer Publications (Pty) Ltd. We are an independent private company not affiliated to any other group or corporate interest.”
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