Cameras from the surrounding residential areas are well supported by the relevant residents’ associations who pay a small annual fee to service and monitor existing cameras in addition to adding more cameras to increase surveillance.  

It is imperative for the safety and security of the town to augment the efforts of the residential cameras with cameras in the lower CBD area to more effectively apprehend offenders.

Any community CCTV project must consist of three parts to be successful:  

1. Each business or home should have its own CCTV camera network, these cameras record the offender committing the crime.  
2. Community CCTV cameras are then used to track the offender from the scene of the crime to their destination.  
3. Camera monitoring provided by the security company facilitates the capture of the offenders through communication between the business where the crime occurred and the security officers on the ground searching for the offender. 

So, while a community camera may not specifically be located at your premises, being part of the community CCTV network means that the offender who committed the crime on your premises has a greater chance of being apprehended.

The cost to repair or replace the current cameras and install new cameras at the proposed locations is broken down as follows:

CAPEX Funds collected: R15 000 (R5000 from KIG and R10000 from Greater Knysna Business Chamber).  

CAPEX Funds still required:  R57 054.96

We are appealing to business and residents in the lower CBD area to contribute to this project to improve on the efforts already in place.  

If 100 residents and business could each contribute R50 per month or R600 per annum to this project there would be sufficient funding to cover the ongoing monitoring, maintenance and surveillance requirements.

Should our fundraising efforts for the CAPEX portion of this project exceed the initial amount required now or in the future, more cameras will be placed at additional locations.

The CBD affects everyone who lives in Knysna.  

This initiative will be run by the Greater Knysna Business Chamber.  Donations and debit orders can be made to the Greater Knysna Business Chamber’s account.  For business, an invoice can be sent to you for the amount you wish to donate.  For those of you who would like to join on a monthly or annual basis, debit order facilities are available through the Greater Knysna Business Chamber. Please reference your contribution as CCTV.

Bank account: Greater Knysna Business Chamber

Standard Bank, Knysna

Account Number 281965862

Bank code 050314

Bank code electronic payments 051001

To support this initiative or for more detailed information, please send an email to info@gkbc.co.za or contact Christo Lombaard 0845574302

As a key stakeholder in Knysna’s socio-economic landscape, the GKBC remains committed to working constructively with all spheres of government, including any interim administrators, to ensure that stability, service continuity, and economic activity are protected.

“Our priority is to support the people and businesses of Knysna through this time. We stand ready to assist in coordinating efforts between the business sector, civil society, and any interim leadership structures to keep our town moving forward,” said Jan vd Westhuizen, Chairperson of the GKBC.

The Chamber urges residents to remain calm and focused on collaboration. We call on all political and civic leaders to place the needs of the town above politics, and to act in the best interest of Knysna’s future.

The GKBC will continue to engage the provincial government, local administrators, and community stakeholders to ensure transparency, accountability, and a swift return to stable local governance.

For further information, contact:

Jan H vd Westhuizen
Chairperson, Greater Knysna Business Chamber
Email: chairperson@gkbc.co.za

Over fifteen editions, the Simola Hillclimb has evolved into South Africa’s premier motorsport event, earning global recognition and even being rated as the best Hillclimb in the world by Hillclimb Monsters, a leading international media house. With an impressive 20 200 attendees in 2025, the event’s economic contribution to the region is undeniable, generating R52.316 million in visitor spend.

Our digital reach continues to grow, with almost 546,000 live stream views and more than 5.74 million minutes of online engagement, showcasing Knysna and the Hillclimb to an international audience. Since its inception in 2009, our Facebook and YouTube views have surpassed one hundred million, further solidifying the event’s status as a motorsport spectacle.

Winning this award would be a meaningful recognition of the dedication from the people who make the event possible, as well as the businesses and residents who embrace and support it each year. We invite you to vote for Simola Hillclimb—an event that brings speed, engineering excellence, and motorsport culture to life while making a lasting impact on our community.

Thank you for your support!

VOTE NOW

The voting system restricts votes to one form submission per main category (example Food & Drink, Medical or Pets.), per IP address (the unique address with which you connect to the internet). Therefore, if anyone has used the same Wifi connection as you to submit their choices, you will not be able to use it again. 

To overcome this is to either disconnect from Wifi and use your mobile internet connection to submit your choices (which will take a negligible amount of data) or connect to another Wifi network or other internet source that has not been used for voting before.

We wish to state unequivocally that the GKBC is not the author, initiator, nor official supporter of this petition, nor were we consulted in its drafting or dissemination. Any assumption or suggestion that the Greater Knysna Business Chamber is associated with this document is entirely incorrect and misleading.

While we respect the right of individuals and organizations to voice concerns within the democratic framework of our Constitution, we emphasize that the GKBC maintains a strictly non-political, solutions-oriented mandate focused on sustainable economic growth, responsible governance, and sustainable development in the Greater Knysna region.

All official communications or advocacy positions of the GKBC are disseminated only through formal, signed statements issued by the Chairperson or duly authorized representatives. No anonymous or third-party documents reflect the official position of the Chamber.

“The Greater Knysna Business Chamber remains committed to constructive dialogue, stability, and responsible development. We will continue to engage with municipal leadership, provincial authorities, and the broader community in a professional, impartial, and transparent manner.”
– Jan van der Westhuizen, Chairperson, Greater Knysna Business Chamber

We call on members of the public, media, and other stakeholders to verify the source of any communication that appears to carry the name or support of the GKBC. We remain available for direct engagement and welcome discussions that promote real, lasting solutions for Knysna.