Locals and visitors are being encouraged to sign an online petition https://chng.it/WxnhhHrbcD aimed at persuading SANRAL to make the N2 and intersecting roads in and around Sedgefield. This after the horrific accident which took place on the N2 just outside Sedgefield on Monday, 26 May, leaving 11-year-old local Emma-Grace Snyman in a critical condition, with a long journey ahead for her recovery.

The accident happened on the western side of town, just past the Engen Garage at the turn-off towards ‘Montmere’ (the road that leads to Outward Bound at the back end of Cloud 9). Emma and two school friends were passengers in a Daihatsu Sirion on their way to horse-riding. They were waiting to turn right off the highway onto the rural road.

Visibility was low due to the wet weather, and a bakkie overtaking a large truck (which was driving in the yellow lane) ploughed into the back of the Daihatsu, pushing them into a stream of oncoming traffic. Several vehicles were involved in the dreadful carnage that resulted within split seconds, but it seems only Emma sustained serious injuries after being flung from the car.

Emergency services were deployed to the scene, and Emma was initially taken to a hospital in George before being flown to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.

She remains there over a week later, with her shell-shocked mother, Vanessa, staying as close as she can to her hospital bedside. The medical team is attending to her around the clock, meeting regularly to ascertain the best proactive and reactive treatment necessary and plan the way forward for the young girl. Yesterday (Tuesday, 3 June), Emma’s father, Johnny, reported that whilst Emma had woken up and no longer needed a ventilator to breathe, she had not been responsive to the doctors.

“She is in a neck brace as her second vertebrae is displaced, and she will need plastic surgery as well as work on her broken jaw,” the distraught man told us, “Her medical report mentioned ‘A prolonged stay,’ so we know this is going to be a long and life-changing haul for all of us.”
Back in Sedgefield, with so many family members and friends desperate to do what they could to help, it was no surprise that two fundraising platforms were started simultaneously. The support has been phenomenal, with close to R400 000 raised to support Emma and her family in the days ahead.

“We are so grateful for all the support,” says Johnny, “Whilst we remain fully focussed on Emma’s short-term recovery at the moment, we also have to think of the long-term.”

He explained that whilst the Red Cross Hospital treatment is not charged for, all funds raised will be channelled towards long-term care and therapy, which Emma will no doubt need on the road to recovery.

As a result of this terrible accident, a number of residents have come together to create a petition with the aim of making this intersection safer.
The petition will inform the road authority of things that urgently need attention/correction:-
• There is currently no dedicated lane for the Montmere turn-off.
• Leading up to the turn-off, the N2 centre line is dotted, which means it is deemed ‘safe to overtake’, which it clearly isn’t.
• The speed limit is not evident along that stretch, causing drivers to feel they may speed up as they ‘leave town’.
• The road signs for the turn-off disappeared some years ago when the road was being repaired. They have not been replaced.
• Signage pointing out that overtaking is prohibited and that a double lane section (for overtaking) is up ahead (up the hill towards the Pine Lake turn-off).

Johnny Snyman has asked that as many people as possible join the efforts to make this intersection safer. This, he hopes, might just prevent another family from suffering the same trauma.

Knysna Municipal Manager Lulamile Mapholoba confirmed that the municipality is taking the necessary steps to ensure that the Knysna wastewater treatment works (KWWTW) complies with a notice served by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) in early April. “All of the minor mechanical failures at the KWWTW were attended to in March of […]

Residents of Sedgefield are being called to actively participate in shaping the future of the town through comments/participation in the draft Sedgefield Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF) 2024 released last week and now available on the Knysna Municipality Website www.knysna.gov.za.

“This is more than a planning exercise—it’s about building a shared vision for Sedgefield,” said Andy Brough of Sedgefield Ratepayers Association,“When communities own the process, implementation becomes more effective, and critical priorities such as environmental care and inclusive development take centre stage.”

The LSDF, which is being compiled by Citeplan Consulting Town Planners appointed by DALRRD, serves as a blueprint for managing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by Sedgefield’s future growth, from safeguarding its fragile ecosystems to addressing historical spatial inequalities. By integrating community input, the framework should ensure development aligns with the needs of the population, such as improved infrastructure and responsible tourism management.

For Sedgefield, renowned for its biodiversity, lakes, and vibrant tourism sector, residents’ insights will be vital to the LSDF’s inclusion of strategies that will protect wetlands, dunes, and beaches from over-development while mitigating climate risks such as coastal erosion and flooding.

Economic sustainability would be another key focus of the LSDF, hence the importance of residents advocating for balanced tourism policies to prevent permanent overcrowding of the town whilst still bringing in enough spend to support the livelihoods of local families.

It should be noted that public participation in the LSDF is not just encouraged by the compilers of the framework, but a legal requirement under South Africa’s Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA). Engaging in the process ensures transparency, accountability, and alignment with national goals, while also addressing historical disparities in access to services and resources. Infrastructure gaps, such as roads, water supply, and healthcare facilities, should also feature prominently in discussions so that residents are able to highlight areas they believe to be ‘under-served’,reduce spatial fragmentation and improve quality of life for its poorer communities.

Levael Davis, Sedgefield’s Ward One Councillor, is also encouraging residents to voice their approval or disapproval of the draft SSDF.
“Whether you are an individual or stakeholder group, this is the time to speak. This document must align to our IDP and will shape development in the future. It does include both good suggestions, and some that I don’t agree with which I will make known through the appropriate channels,” he told us, “What I will say is that houses cannot just be built anywhere, and densities for low-cost housing developments cannot be excessive to the point where we have a Cape Flats typology in Smutsville. One of the critical things I would like to see which isn’t on the proposal is an identified land parcel for future housing development. One that would be suitable, accessible and not make the life of the vulnerable more difficult than it already is.”

The councillor also underlined the importance of the SDF taking Sedgefield’s pristine environment into account by maintaining the spaces that make Sedgefield special.“I’m sure everyone has his or her own views, so please use this opportunity to share them,” he concluded.

Ward Two Councillor Cleone Vanston is also keen for the community to have its say about the draft LSDF.
“This is a crucial time for you to make your voice heard, give inputs and help us all work together to plan the future development of our beautiful town,” she said, pointing out that the LSDF is a 10 – 15 year plan to help the town grow in accordance with the physical and social needs of the families of Sedgefield.

“Whilst many residents feel that change and growth is not needed, it is important to note that our town has had an increase in younger families. Parents between the ages of 40 – 60yrs and many young children and teenagers have increased the population.

“There is a need for a light industrial area, job and skills development,” she continued, “There are five primary schools in Wards One and Two, and we currently have an estimated 1000 grade 7 learners that will need to move on to High-school next year (2026). Transportation is a challenge for many families in Sedgefield and Karatara and surrounding areas, thus making the need for a local high school one of our top priorities.” Cleone also reasoned that social housing for middle-to-lower income families should be another priority.

“All of these are identified needs for Sedgefield and I encourage all of our residents to make give your input within the next 60 days while the public participation process is underway.”

The Draft LSDF is available for public review at: Knysna Municipality’s Land Use Management Department, the Sedgefield Library and on the Municipal website: knysna.gov.za. Any comments, representations, objections, or inputs must be submitted in writing to Casper Badenhorst (casper@citeplan.net) or Hennie Smit (hsmit@knysna.gov.za)by20 May 2025.

(See official advertisement on page 7 of edition 712.)