Our Founding Mission
The Knysna Infrastructure Group (KIG) was established out of a critical need to address pressing infrastructure challenges within the Greater Knysna area. Our journey began with the George Rex Drive pothole project, a seemingly small undertaking that quickly revealed the broader scope of work required to support our community. This initial intervention laid the foundation for our ongoing commitment to the region's well-being and sustainability. Over the past year, KIG has consistently demonstrated its dedication, making interventions that have proven vital for Knysna's stability and progress.
Securing Essential Resources: Water
A cornerstone of KIG's mission is ensuring water security for all residents of Greater Knysna. We have repeatedly stepped in during critical moments when the town's water supply was at risk. For instance, when both main water lines from the Charlesford pump station were compromised, leading to a complete cut-off of water from the Knysna River, KIG not only sourced the necessary heavy equipment and resources for restoration but also fully funded the operation to secure Knysna's water supply. More recently, in October, our interventions were crucial in securing funding, equipment, and software solutions for the Charlesford pump station after all its pumps failed, highlighting our proactive role in preventing water crises.
Protecting Our Environment: Wastewater and Sewerage
Beyond water supply, KIG has taken a leading role in addressing the dire state of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the broader sewerage network in Knysna. Despite numerous interventions, directives, and notices, neither the Knysna Municipality nor the Provincial Government provided financial or operational support to restore the dysfunctional WWTP. As a result, the WWTP is currently operational only due to the unwavering commitment of KIG and Regional Wastewater (RWW). Since September of this year, we have reestablished and are managing the plant daily, even funding a permanent engineering resource on-site and supplying necessary chemicals at our own cost when the municipality failed to do so.
A Foundation Built on Support
The significant achievements of the Knysna Infrastructure Group would not be possible without the invaluable support of our generous donors. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to individuals and organizations such as Duran de Villiers, ALTI, and AER Aviate, whose contributions have been instrumental in enabling our work, particularly on the WWTP. We uphold full accountability to our supporters, providing detailed summaries of how funds are utilized across various projects, from infrastructure repairs to critical water and wastewater interventions. As we look ahead to 2025, KIG remains dedicated to supporting Knysna's infrastructure, committed to ensuring a thriving environment for both residents and visitors, and striving to overcome challenges through continued dedication and hard work.