COVID-19 has kept South Africans apart physically but not in spirit. Social media is flooded with stories of people showing some COVID-19 compassion. Knysna is a shining example of a community pulling together. The municipality has homed the homeless, masks have been donated, and food gathered for the needy. Unbuntu is real here, and if you head onto Facebook you'll see more of it.
At the start of the lockdown, a local COVID-19 Facebook support group was launched. In less than two months, it's already attracted over 4600 members. Knysna resident and creator of the group, Martin Young, shares the details.
Martin, what inspired you to launch the group?
In my view, there was an information vacuum around the growing threat of COVID-19. I thought I could use my experience of social media, both good and bad, combined with my writing hobby, to produce something that could be beneficial for our town.
The group has received a substantial membership. Why's it so popular?
I had no idea people were so desperate for information. I think the fact that the information on the group is 'crowd sourced' but also curated by a team of very capable admins has made it a trustworthy information source.
Our admins are representative of all areas of Knysna. They include therapists, social media activists, environmental activists, social workers, data experts, and even an economist. In six weeks we've had 3400 posts and 23 000 comments. Running the group is a huge job, more than any one person could manage.
The group is governed by three key philosophies: tell the truth, scare people into their wits and not out of them, and, most importantly, be kind. Most people respond positively to this.
23 000 comments say it all. How have people been using the group?
Mainly as an information source and a platform to ask questions and get answers. There's so much that's new and challenging about this crisis, and none of us has ever been in this situation before.
We've had calls for help on issues such as GBV, alcohol withdrawal, and the need for food. These have been relatively few and far between, though. We refer all these requests to established NGOs and welfare organisations. The group also calls out and debunks fake news when we see it.
What's your favourite way the group has lent a helping hand?
I think the biggest 'success' has been in furthering the call to encourage wearing and making of cloth masks for all. As a group, we supported this before it was backed by the provincial and national government.
Right now, community togetherness is key. How can neighbours support each during this tough time?
Just be kind. Lend a hand where you can. The very smallest things can make the greatest difference. We will get to a time where hunger becomes a real issue. I believe there are enough good-hearted people in our region to help mitigate against that. If national government, local government, and civil society pull together we can get through this crisis.
Martin, you're a qualified ENT surgeon. As a medical professional, what's your advice to people during the lockdown?
Listen to the experts. Our political leaders are guided by virologists, epidemiologists, infectious disease experts, economists, actuaries, and more. They give the tough advice to the politicians to empower them to make the right decisions.
We have no better alternative, not being experts ourselves, than to trust those decisions, as hard as it might be. None of these regulations has anything other than a concern for human life behind them.
COVID-19 remains a challenge for our country. Century 21 Knysna applauds our heroes and helpers making a difference from healthcare workers, scientists, farmers, drivers, to social media activists. For real estate assistance, turn to us. We can help you find your post-lockdown home, navigate lockdown as a tenant, or sell in a difficult market. Talk to us today.