Knysna-Plett Herald
Disaster area declaration on the cards
KNYSNA - Western Cape Premier Alan Winde visited the Akkerkloof Dam in Knysna on Tuesday 20 January to receive a first-hand update on efforts to address the municipality’s critical water situation. Earlier in the day, Western Cape MEC for Local...
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It ʼs fun to be in Grade One!
The first day of school for the Grade Ones at Bahia Formosa School, Plettenberg Bay, started with excitement among the little ones. They reacted to teacher Linda Visser’s requests instantaneously and responded to her questions with enthusiasm. “Hands...
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More charges possible in Strydom murder
KNYSNA - Police have confirmed that additional charges may still be added as the murder investigation into the death of 39-year-old Velia Angelique Strydom continues. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of death has been conducted, but the final...
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Children lead the call to protect Knysna playgrounds
KNYSNA - “Never before have Knysna’s children marched to tell us what they want,” said Knysna Mayor Thando Matika as he addressed more than 280 children and youths who gathered at the municipal council chambers on Tuesday 9 December. The historic...
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Innocent a rescue hero
KNYSNA - A sand castle builder on Brenton-on-Sea main beach has been lauded for his swift reaction that saved a father and daughter from drowning, after they were caught in a rip current on Saturday 6 December. Innocent Zungu, a regular at the beach,...
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Government to step in on water crisis
KNYSNA - National and provincial government is set to assess and evaluate Knysna’s water crisis in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution, which could result in the Disaster Management Act being applied to solve the crisis. The decision that the...
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Wheelchair warrior defies odds
KNYSNA - When Thulani Maphumulo contracted polio as a child, doctors told his family he might never walk again. Today, the 38-year-old father of three from Knysna not only runs a thriving construction company from his wheelchair, but has turned his...
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Oupoot to stay solo?
KKNYSNA - A R5-million private initiative to reintroduce a small herd of elephants into the Knysna forest aimed at ending decades of solitude for the region’s last surviving elephant Oupoot, Oup has been formally withdrawn on 25 October. O This Th...
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Tensions mount as Kaws faces internal and legal turmoil
KNYSNA - Tensions continue to rise within the Knysna Animal Welfare Society (Kaws) following a series of internal disputes, resignations, and allegations of misconduct and double standards. The current Kaws committee confirmed it received a written...
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SANParks honours staff excellence in Garden Route
KNYSNA KNY YS - SANParks’ Garden Route eN National Park rangers and conservationists conser rv were honoured at its annual an a regional awards ceremony, cerem mo held at Villa Castollini in Brenton-on-Sea Bre en on Friday 31 October. Octo be The...
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Lineker lands a legend
PLETTENBERG BAY - Owen Lineker (15), a skilled young angler from Plettenberg Bay, has reeled in a phenomenal achievement, smashing both the South African and All-Africa junior records recently with a bulky 5.9kg red Chrysoblephus gibbiceps, popularly...
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‘GREEN GOLD’ BOOMS
PLETTENBERG BAY & KNYSNA - The Knysna and Plettenberg Bay area has seen a rapid rise in avocado tree planting in the past eight years, resulting in a tenfold increase in the number of hectares being planted in this booming Garden Route agricultural...
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Triple gold for Protea gymnast
PLETTENBERG PLETTEN BAY - Plettenberg Bay’s own Léolin Lé Petersen (19) has leapt her way into the national spotlight with a stunning stunni performance at the South African Africa Gymnastics Trampoline Championships Championsh in Gqeberha this past...
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Fraaisig educator wins life orientation excellence award
KNYSNA - Nathan McKock, an educator at Fraaisig F Primary School, was awarded award with a certificate of excellence excellen in teaching life orientation by the Western Cape Education Department. Depa The Th prestigious award ceremony was held on...
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Rugbyglorie
Die afgelope naweek was baie suksesvol en glorieryk vir die groei van rugby in Knysna en Plettenbergbaai met hierdie spanne wat hul onderskeie SWD-rugbyligas gewen het. Albei eindstryde is op Outeniquapark in George beslis, waar ’n groot aantal lojale...
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19-jarige op verjaarsdag doodgesteek
Die gemeenskap van Hornlee is in skok ná die tragiese dood van die 19-jarige Morisha “Pienkie” Sauers, wat op haar verjaarsdag, 1 September, buite haar huis doodgesteek is.
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Pollution of estuary still an issue for Knysna
KNYSNA - The latest results on water quality in the Knysna Estuary have again raised issues about continued pollution. The estuary water quality update on 13 August showed that the Salt River recreation point was non-compliant, with a whopping 850 000...
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Triple Hero’s welcome for gold star
KNYSNA - The streets of Hornlee were abuzz with pride and excitement on Sunday 31 August as the community welcomed home their young star, Requelme Juicy, with a motorcade from Lamco to Kalender Street (Parky). The celebration honoured Requelme’s...
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Kingfisher photo is world class
PLETTENBERG BAY - Plettenberg Bay’s Rob Smith is one of 17 photographers whose work has been highlighted as the crème de la crème of bird pictures. To celebrate World Photography Day, African BirdLife magazine published the top pictures taken in the...
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Kohn denies being a con artist
KNYSNA - Richelle Kohn, who has been accused of fleecing clients, has rejected most of the allegations against her, saying she only borrowed money “from friends”. Kohn said she had promised to repay the money to “EO and JK”, two people quoted in a...
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Concordia learners win in national art competition
KNYSNA - Two learners from Concordia Primary School, Irah Moos and Hope Trotter, brought national recognition to their school, town, and the Eden Central Karoo District when they were named winners of the prestigious 2025 National Science Week Art...
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Couple’s deaths shock Flenter Location
KNYSNA - The Flenter Location community in White Location is reeling after the horrific discovery of the bodies of a 31-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man in a home on Friday 18 July. Knysna Police have opened murder and inquest dockets following...
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Living her dream
KNYSNA- A 27-year-old SA Army Band member, Private Celine Michaels from Hornlee, has shown that perseverance is key to success, or, as she puts it, "living her dream." A dream born in sound Her passion for music and the military was ignited in 2013,...
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Oh shucks, here comes Patrick
Patrick Sibeko toasts his victory with a taste of one of his prizewinning shucked oysters.
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Re-elected Tsengwa promises services and unity
KNYSNA - Former Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa, who was the victorious candidate in last week’s Ward 8 by-election, has recommitted himself to improving service delivery in his ward. Speaking for the first time since his reelection, in which he garnered...
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Knysna teachers awarded
KNYSNA - Three teachers from Knysna scooped awards in different categories at the district level of the 2025 National Teaching Awards. The event was held in Oudtshoorn on Friday 20 June. All the district winners will proceed to the provincial round...
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Knysna’s very own Mrs Margaret
KNYSNA - Knysna’s very ve own living legend, Margaret Parkes, celebrates her h 100th birthday on 21 June. Born in 1925, Parkes (n née Fraser) has borne witness to a century of change, community c and cherished memories. Her roots in Knysna Kny run deep...
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Knysna honours the lives lost and heroes of the 2017 fires
KNYSNA - Knysna Municipality organised a parade to commemorate the 7 June 2017 Knysna fires that ravaged the town and surrounding areas, causing the evacuation of thousands of people and the destruction of nearly 1 000 homes and businesses. Parade A...
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The dream has come true
It was a great moment when the newly built Concordia Primary School in Knysna was officially opened on Tuesday 3 June. Due to unforeseen delays, the school had to keep its dream alive for many years.
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Fatal crash on N2 next to Knysna Lagoon
KNYSNA - A tragic accident involving a Nissan NP300 double cab bakkie and a courier truck took place yesterday, 28 May, on the N2 next to the Knysna Estuary. According to reliable sources at the scene, the driver of the bakkie lost his life in the...
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Red carpet for school’s first Eden sport selection
KNYSNA - A small independent Christian school in Knysna has celebrated a breakthrough achievement in sport at the school. Excitement was high on Friday 16 May, ahead of 11-year-old Grade 5 learner Zoe Asamoah's arrival at KEC Academy School to be...
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Ambulance burgled while paramedics attend to patient
KNYSNA - A paramedic's bag containing medical equipment and personal belongings worth about R3 000 was stolen from an ambulance in Dam se Bos early Saturday morning. The incident is under police investigation after the paramedic opened a case of...
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Heartbreak at Simola
KNYSNA - The South African motorsport community is in mourning following the tragic death of veteran racer Pieter Joubert, who passed away during the Simola Hillclimb event on Sunday 4 May. Joubert, a beloved and seasoned competitor, was participating...
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Hornlee man given command of SA Navy ship
KNYSNA - A Hornlee man who has risen to the rank of commander in the SA Navy has been named as the commanding officer of a new navy ship. Commander Gurshwin Herwels (38) received the honour from the chief of the navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, at the...
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Vrou saag per (on)geluk ikoniese kunswerk uit
KNYSNA - Die welbekende houtverwerker en vervoerkontrakteur Dalena Wolmarans van Knysna was onlangs stomgeslaan toe sy tydens haar werk by haar saagmeule op 'n unieke natuurlike motief in 'n stuk swarthout afgekom het wat opvallend baie ooreenstem met...
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PA member arrested for housebreaking
KNYSNA - The alleged assault involving two high-ranking Patriotic Alliance (PA) representatives went viral over the weekend on the PA's Facebook page with leader Gayton McKenzie spelling out all the details. The altercation between the PA's Waleed...
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Residents block N2
The last straw The N2 near Nekkies was closed for most of Monday morning when residents of Dam se Bos blocked the road in a peaceful protest. The incident was sparked by the death of a 59-year-old man in the latest of several shack fires. The...
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From bottle boy to beloved legend
KNYSNA - After an incredible 53 years of service, Koos Andrews has hung up his apron and retired from the bottle store business. He is 62 years old. Andrews started working at the then Brenton Hotel off-sales at the tender age of nine, doing odd jobs...
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ONTWIKKELAAR EIS R5 MILJOEN VAN AKTIVIS
SEDGEFIELD - Tessa Joubert, ’n ontvanger van die Sedgefield Ratepayers & Residents Association se Celebrate Sedgefield-toekenning in 2023, word nou deur ’n ontevrede ontwikkelaar vir R5 miljoen gedagvaar oor haar teenkanting teen die bou van ’n...
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Police station commander
KNYSNA - Colonel Nicholas Warnick has been appointed as the new commander of the Knysna Police Station. He started in this new position on Monday 10 March. Warnick has promised to fight crime and corruption in the Knysna area, and said he had...
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Festival of Books: atributetocreativity
KNYSNA - The highly successful 2025 Garden Route Festival of Books, which was held in an open space behind the Pam Golding offices on Thesen Island, drew a large number of attendees. Nineteen authors were invited to participate in the three-day event,...
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Newmayor seeks ‘strategic, realistic plan’
KNYSNA - The election of new mayor Thando Matika of the ANC has met with mixed reaction. Matika was elected without opposition as the DA, the largest opposition party, decided not to field a candidate Matika’s election followed the ousting of former...
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Four arrested
- A 46-year-old woman and three men, aged between 37 and 40, were arrested on Tuesday afternoon, 25 February outside Makhanda in the Eastern Cape in connection with the daring robbery of the Knysna Pick n Pay at 07:00 on the same day. The suspects...
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School tackles bullying
- The principal of Knysna Secondary School, Sydney Jantjies, urged its learners "to respect each other, care for each other" at an anti-bullying event held at the school on Monday 17 February. Social workers In attendance were approximately 1 450...
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Blind man can...
KNYSNA - Adventurer extraordinaire Christopher Venter lives by the motto "in an accessible world, a blind man can do anything that a sighted person is able to". Venter, also a philanthropist, writer, entrepreneur, and a well-known public speaker, both...
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Kaskarkaskenades
Die jongspan het groot pret met hul kaskarre gehad die afgelope naweek in Rheenendal. Hierdie een is selfs toegerus met ‘n CX-nommerplaat en uitlaatpyp!
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Alarm over the sewage crisis...
- Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo said the Knysna municipality had failed to enforce bylaws prohibiting the building of informal homes and structures on servitudes and on other sites, and this had contributed to the creation of the...
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Criminals have no place to hide
PLETTENBERG BAY - There is no place for criminals to hide in Plett and its surrounding townships. This was illustrated by Amadoda, or the Qolweni Crime Forum, in the role they played in apprehending a man suspected of attacking an elderly couple, aged...
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Maths whizz makes his mark
Jaydon Engelbrecht’s full marks for the subject gives him the distinction of being in a small group of learners nationwide who effectively make up the top achievers in maths at school last year.
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Festive season boost
PLETTENBERG BAY - As Plett’s Summer Festival draws to a close, Plett Tourism is celebrating what appears to be one of the busiest tourism periods since the pandemic. "In fact, we are still busy and are not quite finished with the season. This summer...
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Body on beach
PLETTENBERG BAY - The mystery of the disappea-rance of two young men from New Horizons, who went missing during a canoe trip on the Keurbooms lagoon over a month ago, appears to have been solved. It is believed that the body that washed up on the...
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Our voices matter...
KNYSNA - The Epilepsy SA South Cape/ Karoo Branch once again marked National Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) by holding a march in Main Road, Knysna, to highlight the plight of those living with disabilities in our society. This year their...
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Simply the best
PLETTENBERG BAY - When “Rocky”, a Rockhopper penguin, washed ashore at Robberg in January 2023, he was taken into the care of Chanel Visser, senior marine field ranger at CapeNature’s Robberg Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area. Chanel, a new...
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Five Knysna learners in hospital after ‘eating food from a local spaza shop’
- A police investigation is under way following reports that five children from White Location, Knysna, were taken to hospital on Monday 25 November after allegedly consuming food from a local spaza shop. The children, who are all learners at Chris...
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Lagoon crash
- A truck plunged into the Knysna Estuary after veering from the N2 near Knysna early yesterday morning, Wednesday 20 November, and a team specialising in preventing damage to the environment responded swiftly, and worked speedily to limit any...
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GOLD ING WAY
Prestigious 5 bedroom house in sought after Brackenridge Estate, Plettenberg Bay
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Badge of honour for beaches
PLETTENBERG BAY - Plettenberg Bay was awarded eight international Blue Flag Awards for the 2024/2025 season and a Green Coast Award for Nature’s Valley at the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa's (WESSA) Blue Flag and Green Coast...
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Can’t take this...
- The staff and owner of Knysna Fine Art are struggling to cope with the ear-splitting sound and smoke coming continuously from pumps extracting sewage from the sinkhole in front of the gallery. The pumps have been running daily since early in...
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Pay back the money
PLETTENBERG BAY - A Western Cape High Court order setting aside the severance package of acting municipal manager Mbulelo Memani, and revoking his termination as municipal manager, has been welcomed by DA mayor Jessica Kamkam as a “significant...
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Elephant puzzle ...
- A report on consultations between SANParks scientists, South African and international wildlife groups, and communities, due to be released in the first quarter of next year, will mark a significant step towards a decision being made on whether or...
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Ethon is best in SA
From a young age, I’ve understood the power of education. I was always aware of how it could transform lives and open doors.That understanding became my driving force as I embarked on my teaching career, where I’ve worked to ensure that my learners...
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Crackdown on Bitou municipal directors
- One director in the Bitou municipality has been suspended, and another director has been asked to give reasons why he should not be suspended. This follows a heated and loud “in-committee” (behind closed doors) debate during a special council...
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Hornets’ nest stirred over rescinded aid resolution
- The rescinding of a mayco resolution that determined the allocation of R1,9 million in grant-in-aid (GIA) caused heated debate in the Bitou special council meeting on Wednesday 18 September. The mayco recommendation was made under a different...
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Soulmates tie knot at last
A group of local women who are members of the NPO Vroue in Nood recently made a couple's wedding dream come true. The group of committed women, led by NPO chairperson Sharon Swartz, work tirelessly in their respective communities to support women and...
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