It’s not often that a newspaper can make its own front page headlines, but we thought that this ‘five century’ milestone is one worth shouting about, especially as the growth (and indeed survival) of this community newspaper really has been a community effort.
Some locals may well be able to cast their minds back to November 1998 when The EDGE title was first launched, but if the truth be told the newspaper was officially started in February 1997 by Dee Bernard, under the ‘Sedgefield Advertiser & Wilderness Ways’ banner-head. It had a print run of 1500 copies.
Kelly and Bomber Webb bought the business in February 1998, and it was run by Kelly’s brave sister Kirsty Hayward whilst the Webb family finalised their immigration. At the time it was an A4 publication printed on bond, which normally ran to 10 pages, mostly as an advertising platform.
The new owners felt that in order to sustain the paper (there was a flood of ‘only advertising’ publications at the time) it would be better, and definitely more fulfilling, to steer it in the direction of ‘Community News’. The decision to change its name was made, and a competition launched to get the community involved in the process. Mrs Kruger, a retiree from Plett, suggested it be called The EDGE (she said that’s what the paper had on its competition) and so Sedgefield’s new community newspaper was born.
It seemed that the decision to include as much local news as possible paid off as the community soon adopted The EDGE as its own – even popping in to the offices on occasion to remonstrate with staff members about the odd spelling mistake. (“But what about the 25000 words I spelt right?” the editor would ask.)
With readership numbers growing year on year, the newspaper acquired a single-colour printing machine early in 2006, and in April that year, when it had reached a regular 32 pages per edition, the owners took the next bold step and increased the page size to ‘tabloid’ (A3).
“It’s like a real, grown up newspaper,” the staff told the elderly reader who came in to enquire why it no longer fitted into her handbag.
At that stage the printing process was lengthy, and the black and white publication, which was by then at a print run of 5000, took the best part of five days to print. A team of ladies would come in to fold and collate each edition.
By 2009 there were more and more advertisers asking for the inclusion of colour in The EDGE, so enquiries were made to a large print company in Port Elizabeth to see if going the full colour route would be a sustainable option. As it turned out the costs were not prohibitive, and the real clincher came when the company’s production manager was asked how long it would take for their high-speed web press to print, fold and collate The EDGE.
“About forty five minutes,” was the answer.
This meant, of course, that the newspaper could report on the latest news right up until the night before publication – which would obviously be far more satisfying for the editorial team and their readership.
And so, on 11 March 2009, edition 306 of The EDGE ‘hit the streets’ in glorious full colour.
From its humble beginnings of being run from a small corner of a lounge by a solitary, except-ionally stressed person, The EDGE is now designed and produced in its own dedicated building by a happy team of six. Still stressed, but cheerfully so.
This phenomenal 18 year ride would not have been possible without the wonderful support of our staff (paid and volunteer), advertisers, editorial contributors and, of course, our readers. So to you all we raise our grateful glasses (champagne, not reading) and say a heartfelt Cheers! Here’s to the next 500 editions!

Last night’s public meeting with Knysna’s SAPS leadership representatives and those of Knysna CPF, held at the Smutsville Community Hall, could only be described as frustrating. Both because of the low turnout of community members, and because Sedgefield is still no closer to getting an answer to the burning question – when will it be getting the long-promised fully fledged police station?
With such a topical and important issue up for discussion, one would have thought that the hall would have been packed full of concerned citizens, but this certainly wasn’t the case as only a smattering of people trickled in.
Some of those present pointed out that the meeting could have been started at 7pm so that people had time to get home from work, whilst another suggestion was the use of a loud-haler in the streets of Smutsville / Sizamile, to alert people about the meeting.
But the low attendance did not mean an easy ride for the panel, made up of Station Commander, Colonel Metu, Lieutenant Colonel Detective Commander Khan and Captain Kidd of Knysna SAPS, as well as Sedgefield Sector Commander Sonja Stander, Jessica Trail and Cheryl Brits of Knysna CPF and Juanita of Sedgefield CPF.
They heard tale after tale of poor service from the under-manned Sedgefield Station, from finding the doors locked and the lights off, to waiting hours and hours for response, to actually watching criminals escape because due to lack of SAPS members available to arrest them. There certainly was no shortage of frustration, and some of those present even suggested that mass-action protests might be necessary to get the village’s concerns heard.
Gary Atkinson, whose restaurant suffered a break-in only last weekend, asked how smaller towns such as Dusseldorp could have their own full-on police stations.
But whilst the SAPS members at least acknowledged that the lack of resources in the Sedgefield Sector was a big problem, asking those present to report the individual cases of bad service to the commander for investigation, they were unable to provide any solid answers as to when, if ever, a proper police station would become a reality.
Indeed one particularly shocking revelation came from Captain Kidd who pointed out that Sedgefield Station isn’t even a satellite station, but actually a lesser entity called a ‘contact point’.
“Satellite stations have designated staff who report there for duty, whilst ‘contact points’ have their staff deployed from the larger station,” he explained.
He quickly added that in discussion with Cluster Commander General Reddy, the problems in Sedgefield had been raised, and that they are certainly being given attention.
“I can’t say what or how, but it’s definitely looking up,” he said.
The meeting continued along the same vein for almost two hours, but in the end many of those attending left more frustrated than ever.
Said Mike Hoffhuis, head of Community Orientated Policing (COP) “It was very disappointing to see such poor attendance by the community as a whole. Residents are quick to take to social media and be keyboard warriors, yet when we need them to voice their opinion in person to officials, they are nowhere to be seen.”

Many local residents will be wondering about the noise of emergency vehicles and helicopters heading in the Wilderness direction earlier today. It seems that only weeks after the fire in the Lakes area destroyed several homes, another was started there – once again in the exceptionally dry reeds at the water’s edge, this time towards Ebb and Flow. The ground crew for George Fire Brigade were quickly on scene and a fire-fighting chopper  deployed.

As of lunchtime the George Municipality reported the fire as being under control and by 3pm it was all but done and clean up operations were underway.  A case of arson is being investigated by SAPS, who are also looking into where the original point of ignition took place.

According to Nandi Mgwadlamba – Communications Officer for SANParks, that entity  also deployed resources to assist the George FireBrigade. She says says today’s fire was better managed due to institutional arrangements strengthened after the first incident two months ago after which fire authorities refreshed MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding agreements).

In these agreements the authorities (George Municipality, Eden District Municipality, the SCFPA and SANParks) undertook to:

• Devise a proactive plan to respond to unforeseen changing weather conditions
• To revisit emergency procedures and the better integration of resources

It is hoped that there will be no more flare-ups, but residents are advised to keep watch and act with precaution.

In the true community spirit that has become the hallmark for Sedgefield, the turnout for this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Walk was brilliant – in fact brilliantly pink if the truth be told.

We are still awaiting for the total tally of entries to come from the CANSA crew, but any passers-by will surely attest to the veritable ‘river of pink’ that wound its way along The Island roads.  The cheerful participants had certainly gone that extra mile in dressing for the cause, and some of the more wild and whacky outfits drew titters from the walking crowd as they made their way along. The 5km event was organised by Sedgefield Striders and enthusiastically promoted far and wide by Belinda Hobson of our local tourism office.

The start and finish lines were outside the bowls club premises, where the prize-giving took place afterwards. Whilst there was no award for first place (it certainly wasn’t a race!), prizes for best dressed were handed out as well as numerous ‘spot’ prizes donated by local businesses.

A well-organised, happy event, which certainly leaves no doubt that the Sedgefield community is serious about cancer awareness. Congrats to all who were involved in any way.

It was an emotional time at Die Gaatjie, Smutsville earlier today (22 September), when some households got to experience electricity for the first time. Resident John Hardnick was brought to tears as he flicked the switch on and his small home was bathed in light, with Mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies and Ward 1 Councillor Levael Davis applauding excitedly as they recognised his joy.

The Knysna Municipality and the Department of Energy have provided this spark of hope, and indeed dignity, to 120 families living in Sedgefield’s poorest suburb.
These residents have lived without electricity for many years and joined in the official switch-on with great excitement and enthusiasm.
The Knysna Municipality’s Integrated Human Settlements Department applied to the national Department of Energy for electrification of Die Gaatjie. The Department approved the application and agreed to providing electricity to these families at a cost of R900 000.
The Municipality has faced several challenges regarding the formalising of this area as it is established on an old dump site, which meant it failed to meet the requirements of the Environmental Planning Department. Despite this the area has been provided with basic services such as taps and temporary toilets.
Knysna Executive Mayor Councillor Eleanore Bouw-Spies was thrilled to attend the second switch on since her recent inauguration and said: “Just two weeks ago I stood in Lapland in Rheenendal and witnessed the joy of residents as they received electricity. Today I am over-the-moon that these 120 dwellings in Die Gaatjie have joined the millions who, at the flip of a switch literally have light.”

The Mayor said that she would be able to sleep much better at night knowing that the families in Die Gaatjie would have simple things that many take for granted, such as light for children to do their homework, or  power to charge cell phones. She did point out to the residents that having electricity also brings responsibility.

“Use it wisely as the cost of this power is determined by government and does not come cheap. I hope to come back in a few months and see just what positive affect electricity has had on your lives.”

Bouw-Spies concluded, “I am pleased with the progress that our Integrated Human Settlement Department has made in providing our people in the Greater Knysna with basic services. I would like to thank the Manager of the Department, Mawethu Penxa and a big thank you to the Department of Energy.”
The municipality’s Integrated Human Settlements Department is committed to upgrading informal settlements by providing access to basic services such as potable water, sanitation, access to roads electricity and incrementally providing those that qualify with access to top structures. This is done in line with the Provincial Strategic objective 6, an approach that is endorsed by Provincial Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela.