Law Enforcement Teams Brace Themselves for Fireworks
On Guy Fawkes last year, the City responded to nearly 400 fireworks-related complaints and confiscated nearly 13 000 fireworks, but officers also had their hands full dealing with criminal elements using the day to sow fear and terror in some communities.
With Diwali and Guy Fawkes around the corner, the City of Cape Town’s enforcement agencies are once more preparing for a flood of complaints about the illegal discharge of fireworks and other related incidents – this in spite of repeated calls for the responsible use of fireworks and work by the City to highlight the associated dangers.
Last November, the City’s Law Enforcement Department confiscated 12 865 fireworks from illegal traders. In addition, Law Enforcement and Metro Police officers responded to a total of 385 complaints on Guy Fawkes and issued dozens of fines totalling more than R10 000 for the illegal discharge of fireworks.
‘It is illegal to discharge fireworks outside specific designated areas. It is also illegal to buy fireworks from traders without valid police-issued permits. Sadly, many Capetonians continue to disregard the law and end up terrorising their neighbours who have to put up with noise. The law also matters very little to some until there is an incident where someone gets hurt, or worse, but this too doesn’t seem to be much of a deterrent,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Other regulations around the trade in fireworks include:
• Fireworks are only permitted to be sold in sealed packages, as received from the suppliers.
• Children under the age of 16 are not allowed by law to purchase and/or discharge fireworks without adult supervision.
• Residents are reminded that anyone who discharges shop bought fireworks at these sites does so at their own risk.
• All approved, organised fireworks displays in Cape Town must be presented by licensed fireworks contractors who operate under the Explosives Act, Number 26 of 1956; the Explosives Regulations; and the City’s Community Fire Safety By-Law. The City’s Fire Safety Inspectors and Law Enforcement officers, together with the Explosives Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS), will conduct inspections at fireworks display sites to ensure that all safety requirements are met.
As in previous years, eight designated areas have been assigned for the discharging of fireworks. These areas are:
• Bishop Lavis sports field, Lavis Drive, Bishop Lavis
• Wesfleur sports field, Reygersdal Drive, Atlantis
• Macassar Beach parking area, Macassar Road, Macassar
• Swartklip Sports Complex, corner of Spine and Swartklip Roads, Mitchells Plain
• Maidens Cove parking area, Victoria Road, Camps Bay
• Athlone Stadium parking area (eastern side), Klipfontein Road, Athlone
• Strandfontein Pavilion, Strandfontein
• Beachfront opposite the Tourism Centre, Table View
‘The City has limited resources and we cannot be everywhere all of the time, so we appeal to residents to work with us to ensure a safe city. Do the right thing and either take your neighbours to task if they’re breaking the law or report the matter to the City or the SAPS. To make matters worse, we also have to police the growing mob culture associated with Guy Fawkes, where gangs of children run around with paint and other paraphernalia, terrorising their communities and using this “celebration” to rob and hurt innocent people. This really is utter nonsense and needs to stop,’ added Alderman Smith.
Members of the public with information relating to the illegal sale or use of fireworks can report the information to the Metro Police Call Centre on 0860-POLICE (765 423) or to the SAPS on 10111. General emergencies can be directed via the Public Emergency Call Centre on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.