Paradise lost - the true cost of the Garden Route fire
'The only thing they carried out is just a bag or blanket and a dog or a cat — that’s it'
09 June 2017 - 08:06
By PETRU SAAL, FARREN COLLINS, KATHARINE CHILD, MAHLATSE MPHAHLELE and PHILANI NOMBEMBE “Everything happened so fast. One minute the wind was blowing, the next thing the chickens were running wild,” said 42-year-old Michael Jafta, crouched under a grey blanket and waiting for a volunteer to warm soup. He and his brother Johnny, 44, lost the home in Salt River, Knysna, they had lived in for a decade in one of the infernos that swept the Garden Route. “I lost everything, everything,” said a tearful Michael, who has taken refuge with his brother and dozens of others in Hornlee Community Hall.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.