MAKE CONTACT
FACEBOOK FEED
FROM Councillor Cleone Vanston![]()
![]()
The past week has been a very emotional experience, 12 hour days all week long, and the result of protecting and assisting over 370 people is indescribable. ![]()
Assisting daily to the humanitarian needs of women, children, and men. ![]()
Once again, the team and town of Sedgefield managed this humanitarian disaster like a well-oiled machine. ![]()
To my "A team" that made this week a success - Thank you doesn't seem to be sufficient, no words can describe how grateful I am to have had this opportunity to work with you all for the betterment of our foreign nationals. ![]()
Thank you to the following stakeholders Mario, Clare, and the gift of the givers team.![]()
Jenny, Rashida and Mobile meals![]()
The Sedgefield Lions![]()
To our Knysna Municipal Director, Johnny Douglas and AMM ![]()
To Mr Coko from Immigrations and DHA teams![]()
To DLG &CWP ![]()
To Michael Simon ![]()
To SAPS and Capt Pieterse ![]()
To our Law enforcement teams ![]()
To DR JC venter and Dr Brink.![]()
To everyone who donated something ![]()
To Our Premier Alan Winde 💙 and the Provincial Disaster management team
Dear Readers,![]()
![]()
There seems to be some misunderstanding regarding this week’s front page article, entitled XENOPHOBIA – NEVER THE ANSWER. ![]()
![]()
A number of community leaders and other residents of Smutsville have messaged the newspaper, complaining that the story insinuates that the entire Smutsville community is xenophobic.![]()
![]()
This certainly was not the intention of the article – and I, as the writer, had hoped that the two paragraphs included in the first column would have made this clear. ![]()
![]()
They read as follows:![]()
![]()
“The immediate trigger for the panic of the many Malawians, Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals was the high level of intimidation by groups of youths, most notably in Slangepark and Smutsville. At the time of going to press, no injuries to foreign nationals had been reported, but the threat itself was enough to create fear and movement, with the juveniles reportedly chasing foreign nationals through the streets armed with golf clubs, and reports of their now vacated homes already being looted.”![]()
"Public Order Policing units, or POPS, on standby in Knysna, were swiftly deployed to Sedgefield as soon as the trouble began along with SAPS and Municipal Law Enforcement vehicles, sent not to arrest foreign nationals, but to transport them to places of safety, which in Sedgefield’s case, was the Town Hall."![]()
![]()
That being said, by the number of messages I have received (all of which I answered individually) a different perception of the article seems to be circulating, and I have clearly – and regrettably - upset some of our readers residing in Smutsville, for which I humbly apologise.![]()
![]()
I have always known the Smutsville community to be good, peace-loving folk, and the fact that incidents of threats, violence and looting were isolated on Tuesday is testament to that.![]()
![]()
I do still stand by the core message that I hope the article makes clear: Xenophobia – and the intimidation, violence and fear-mongering that comes with it - will never, ever be the solution to any of South Africa’s problems. ![]()
![]()
It is such a shame that, as it is all over the world, the hateful actions of just a few individuals can cause such unrest for a whole community.![]()
![]()
Yours faithfully![]()
![]()
Bomber Webb.![]()
Editor (and Chief Bottle Washer) of The EDGE.![]()
![]()
PS: If you do wish to comment, please do so constructively and with compassion. Be kind.
Edition 743 is online at www.edgenews.co.za and ready for your reading pleasure. Printed editions will be on the streets from lunchtime. We lead with the very sad news of Xenophobia happening right here on our doorstep, and how some of the community has reacted - both negatively and positively. There's also details of how the Council Speaker used his 'vetoe' to halt a proposed salary increase for members of the Council. There's feedback from the En Route Arts Festival, a new president for Sedgefield Lions, the Scouts' birthday celebrations, three locals who excelled in their studies, and a young soccer team who out-performed their rivals to win a tournament trophy this last weekend.![]()
Plus, of course, all the other news, views and PHEW!s that make a community newspaper such a very special read!
The Edge Community News – Sedgefield, Knysna, Wilderness, George
www.edgenews.co.za
Breaking News JESSE SCOOPS YOUNG CHEF OF THE YEAR www.edgenews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/742-page-1.jpg 737 495 Bomber Webb www.edgenews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/blank_3...
This content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.SEDGE WEATHER
Click below to view 36 Hour Weather