The civil rights organisation AfriForum and Dr David Klatzow, Forensic Scientist, welcome the findings of the CSIR’s Meraka Institute on the origin of the Elandskraal fire, which led to great damage and loss of life in Knysna and surrounding areas.
The report by the CSIR confirms in great detail where, when and how the Elandskraal fire started. It also confirms that the Klatzow report is correct. The CSIR conducted a highly scientific analysis on the origin of the fire. Some of the latest technology was used, combined with expertise and experience on the subject. It is trusted that the finding will finally confirm what the origin of the fire was and precisely where it started.
Following the CSIR’s findings, Dr David Klatzow – who investigated the fires on behalf of AfriForum and compiled a report thereon – commented as follows in the document attached.
Controversy surrounded the Klatzow report on the Knysna fires because it indicated a different origin and location from the report of the Knysna Local Municipality which was compiled by Clinton Manuel, the former Chief Fire Officer. In the Manuel report it was found that pine cones, set alight by people, were the origin of the fire.
Reint Dykema, Knowledge Manager and AfriForum Spokesperson for the Knysna fire incident who accompanied Dr Klatzow with the compilation of his report, noted the following: “Before 7 June 2017 there were various examples of different people who brought the smouldering fire under the attention of the Knysna municipality. Given the drought during the preceding period, one would expect that any risk of possible fires would be investigated fully and that appropriate steps would be put in place to extinguish these fires. There are proven methods to extinguish smouldering fires.
“AfriForum would welcome it should the Knysna municipality officially distance itself from the Clinton Manuel report, with specific reference to the incorrect indication of the location and origin of the Elandskraal fire. It is also trusted that the municipality would launch an internal investigation into why the Knysna and Sedgefield Fire Stations chose to ignore the smouldering Elandskraal fire,” says Dykema.
- The CSIR report can be found at this link: https://www.csir.co.za/documents/csir-knysna-report-2018pdf.
- The Klatzow report is available at this link: Klatzow report.