Knysna local ESTER BEUKES wrote the following messages to SAPeople early this morning, while most of us were sleeping… Photos on this page are by DIRK ERASMUS and show the 7 June fires around PE (Draaifontein/Crossways). 03h48 Note 1 Unfortunately it’s not over yet. I woke up with a terrible headache… a sure sign of […]

The devastation left after four days of fires raging in South Africa’s southern Cape can be clearly seen in this drone footage. So many homes were lost and seven lives were taken as the inferno burned up the normally beautiful Garden Route. Locals in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna would far rather people please watch this video […]

We are so sad to confirm that the mother of three-year-old Catherine, who died in the Knysna Fires, has now also succumbed to her injuries, and passed away in Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, last night. She had suffered 70 percent burns to her body. Enala and her daughter had been trying to outrun the fire in […]

The Eden Fires, including Knysna, have claimed at least one other life and left more people critically injured, according to an official statement by the Western Cape Government Saturday evening. Early this evening the Western Cape Government said a 63-year-old man, John Blaauw, lost his life near Concordia, bringing the number of confirmed fatalities in the area to six. […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has refuted  messages circulating on social media andWhatsApp… which are spreading fake news and misinformation on the #CapeFires. In a statement Saturday late afternoon, SAPS said: “Various fake news reports are being spread on social media and WhatsApp and are posing a huge threat on efforts to relieve and successfully counter the […]

Knysna resident Scott Edkins, has launched a heartbreaking campaign to help rebuild the life of one of his neighbours… the father of the little 3-year-old girl, Catherine Nyirenda, who was tragically killed in the Knysna fires this week. Her mother, Blessing Nyirenda’s wife, is currently fighting for her life in Tygerberg Hospital. Scott wrote this heartfelt […]

With fires out of control in parts in the Southern Cape, the NSPCA Disaster Teams are now also assisting people to evacuate. NSPCA announced Saturday afternoon that another NSPCA Disaster Team will be dispatched to the Eastern Cape first thing tomorrow morning from Gauteng and Kulula.com has once again donated the flights for free. Earlier today the […]

The heart of the action in Knsyna today is at the Knysna High School Sports Ground where firefighting and rescue crews wait to be deployed, and where –  on Saturday afternoon, just after 13h00 – residents from Brenton have also been instructed by the Knysna Municipality to evacuate to immediately. SAPeople contributor ESTER BEUKES captured photos […]

Knysna Municipality has just issued the following instruction: “RESIDENTS AT FLENTER LOCATION, RHOBOLOLO, GREENFIELDS AND JOODSEKAMP NEED TO GET READY FOR EVACUATION. PLEASE MOVE TO AREA OF KHAYALETHU HALL, DAMSEBOS SPORTS GROUNDS, HORNLEE SPORTS GROUNDS!” UPDATE: Brenton has been added to this list at 13h15. Knysna Municipality says: “Brenton residents please evacuate to the Knysna High […]

Residents in Sedgefield have been asked to prepare to evacuate, but to not panic. At this stage (10h30) there is no need to evacuate and the fires are being monitored, according to Knysna Municipality. A special page set up for ‘Knysna Fires 7th June’ issued a message this morning, saying: “*Attention all Sedgefielders* : _Please do […]

LIODA CONRAD, a metaphysical artist, has described the loss and love experienced during the harrowing hours during and after fleeing from the devastating Knysna Fire… in a post, with photos and video, that have gone viral. Lioda writes: “Shell-shocked, exhausted and close to tears. So much loss and devastation, it’s hard to take it all in. […]

Western Cape Cabinet Ministers have launched an urgent humanitarian effort in the wake of the devastating fires and storms in the Eden District of the Southern Cape, which left at least nine people dead, including a 3-year-old child. Almost 10 000 residents were displaced in the Eden district as fires swept through approximately 20 suburbs of Knysna and […]

Carte Blanche producer and former 50/50 presenter, Johann Botha, has been tragically shot and killed during an armed robbery at a bar/restaurant in Johannesburg. The bar owner Werner ‘Swazi’ Perchtold was also killed. The shocking incident occurred on Wednesday evening, at the Zebra House Inn in Gauteng’s Maboneng district. According to police spokesperson, Captain Kay Makhubele, three men and […]

Following massive fires and a major storm – in which eight people lost their lives – the Western Cape Government has issued the following updates, and asked evacuees to please not return home until informed that it is safe to do so: Knysna Fire update: Humanitarian support is being co-ordinated for an estimated 8,000-10,000 residents […]

Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has survived a hijacking incident, which occurred early Wednesday evening outside Hyde Park Shopping Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her personal belongings were stolen, but the thieves fled leaving her car behind. She was unharmed. Fikile Mbalula, RSA Minister of Police, said he was “shocked” by the “brazen” attempt and that […]

After a devastating night in which many homes and other buildings have been burnt in raging fires in Knysna, some good news comes this morning from the Western Cape, as Working on Fire (WOF) report that the right flank of the Pezula Area, which ran the risk of jumping over to private property, is now […]

A fifth-generation Knysna resident, Natalie Grundlingh, has set up a fundraising page as her beloved town burns to the ground. Natalie says: “I’m just an average woman from a small town in the Western Cape of South Africa, called Knysna. “Knysna is not only a paradise for its locals, it’s appreciated by many South Africans […]

Eden District is burning out of control this evening in South Africa, after a day in which extremely strong winds fanned fires in the Western Cape and left at least three people dead. SAPeople follower Ester Beukes is on the scene and is one of those who has been evacuated. Apparently Knysna High School is one of […]

One woman was flung across a plane during a Joburg to Cape Town flight this morning, when the aeroplane she was travelling on was caught in major turbulence due to the Cape Town storm in South Africa. As the plane was shaken by the turbulence, the lady was flung from her seat and injured her […]

The Eden District Municipality has confirmed that tragically three people have died in the fire near Rheenendal settlement. The deceased were a farm worker, his wife and their son. There are several large fires raging on South Africa’s famous Garden Route, as gale force winds batter the region. The Knysna Municipality has activated a local JOC […]

Africa Check has been busy today, sorting fact from fiction, for those who may have been a little confused by some of the posts being shared about the #CapeStorm. Cape Town vlogger RyGuySA started a storm with his video of a tornado seen approaching Cape Town. “This is crazy! #CapeTown #capestorm #weatherforecast,” he wrote. See video […]

The much awaited #CapeStorm has arrived. Regular SAPeople contributor ALAN RUDNICKI managed to capture this footage of high winds blowing through and wild seas. This morning Alan said: “The wind is insane at the moment. Very cold too now. The rain stopped this morning but more is expected later.” The footage below is of trees in […]

Okay, first the serious stuff. Here is everything you need to know about what some are calling ‘Dik Wednesday‘ (inspired by the surf movie ‘Big Wednesday’). The Western Cape could be in for a very, very severe storm if predictions are correct. (Scroll down also for some of the memes and jokes that are already being […]

The severe storm headed to the Western Cape is predicted to make landfall at midnight tonight, and ALL schools in the Western Cape will be closed tomorrow as a precautionary measure. In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Brian Schreuder, Head of Education Western Cape, said: “After extensive consultation with all roleplayers and at the recommendation of the Provincial […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa is officially in recession, for the first time since 2009, with the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) having contracted to -0.7% in the first quarter of 2017, Statistics South Africa announced on Tuesday. The news, just over an hour ago, has already caused the Rand to start plummeting, falling 1% on […]