Myburgh has been living in Cinderella for the past 14 years and is the marketing manager at The Glen Shopping Centre in Alberton.
He is a qualified paramedic and has completed various courses including firefighting and was a police reservist for 11 years.
“I enjoy helping and serving the community – it is in my blood, it is just who I am,” said Myburgh, who also serves on the local CPF. So, when the call came in for assistance in Knysna, Myburgh jumped at the opportunity like so many of the other volunteers.
On June 10, a group of 10 volunteers flew to Cape Town to assist with the raging fires which have left Knysna and many other areas completely destroyed.
With Myburgh were Barnie Liebenberg, David Marais, Renaldo Macklam, Pieter Crous, Vandre’ Nel, Stephen Albertyn, Cornelius Kruger, Riaan Taute and Jas Kruger.
“What a great team led by Jas. From the word ‘go’ we all got along well with each other and on the field, we worked like a well-oiled machine. Safety was always our priority and everyone looked after each other. I could not have asked to be with a better group,” said Myburgh.
According to Myburgh getting to Knysna had its challenges. The team departed from Johannesburg on a flight sponsored by Federal Airlines and landed in Bloemfontein.
George airport had been closed due to strong winds and Plettenberg Bay airport had been shut down due to raging fires.
With all this to consider, and after the pilots talked to the airport in George and the team, they were left with two options: Fly back to Johannesburg or land – at their own risk – in strong crosswinds in George at an airport that had been shut down.
“It was not even up for discussion – we were going to George,” said Myburgh.
He described the flight into George that evening as “hair-raising” because the plane bounced and swayed while approaching the well-lit runway which then disappeared in the cockpit window.
“Once we landed everyone roared. We clapped and cheered to thank the professional pilots.”
From the air, the team could immediately see what was waiting for them as there were patches and long lines of orange and red on the ground. They were then driven to where they would be staying for the next of days.
All they could see in the dark were fires along the roads of the burnt out hillsides. The next morning they were up before the sun and went through to George Fire Station where they were welcomed with open arms. They were briefed and deployed immediately to Knysna, George, Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay.
“The devastation we saw was unbelievable,” said Myburgh.
It was awful to see what was once a solid brick house, reduced to its concrete foundations with burnt out cars in the driveways; destroyed forests and plantations were wherever we looked; families have lost everything and some have lost loved ones or animals… the list goes on
Myburgh said the community support in Knysna was amazing.
“I have never seen a community come together and stand by each other like these people have. They are an extremely close community. Gauteng has also done a wonderful job with donations and support, but there is just something about these people and the love and support they show for each other,” he said.
The team arrived back safely in Johannesburg on Tuesday, June 13.
Boksburg cares
The Advertiser helped load five eight-ton trucks with the community’s donations towards the Caxton #Knysna Relief collection drive.
We thank each and every one who emptied his or her cupboards and wallets for this good cause.
Among the schools who donated were Laerskool Concordia, Step Up Pre-Primary and Summerfields Primary School (through Need It Stationery’s Knysna drive).
Thank you to Cedar Employee Benefits (Pty) Ltd in Houghton who donated items worth R10 000; the Impala Park (through Need It Stationery’s Knysna drive) community; the Witfield community (the Page-family; Trudie Swanepoel; Stefanie and August Storbeck; Pieter, Lenie and Veronica Steyn; and Penny Stolterfoht).
