Authorities respond to ongoing water crisis in Knysna

THE Knysna Municipality has activated its Joint Operations Centre (JOC) to coordinate a multi-agency response to the town's worsening water crisis, with thousands of residents in at least nine wards left with no or limited access to water for weeks.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

The JOC was formally established on Wednesday under the Disaster Management Act and remains operational as authorities scramble to stabilise supply and manage relief efforts. The coordinated response includes support from the provincial government, the Garden Route District Municipality Disaster Management, Knysna SAPS, Fire & Rescue Services, the Knysna Infrastructure Group, and civil organisations such as Gift of the Givers.

Two water tankers are stationed in Rheenendal, while 14 trucks in total are operating across Knysna daily between 7am and 11pm, delivering water to residents in defined zones.

A prototype water delivery schedule was implemented late on Thursday, assigning tankers to designated reservoir areas, each identified by registration number and monitored through daily check-ins at the Knysna Fire Station.

These tankers are disinfected regularly as a safety measure.