Fewer incidents reported for Guy Fawkes celebrations, says CoCT

The City of Cape Town has welcomed the continued drop in Guy Fawkes complaints related to fireworks.

The City, since 2019, no longer provides designated fireworks sites for Guy Fawkes, Diwali and New Year’s Eve but this, says the municipality, has not stopped residents from discharging fireworks in residential areas.

Between 3 and 5 November, the City's Public emergency communication Centre (PECC) recorded 225 calls related to the illegal discharge of fireworks, and 40 related to the illegal sale of fireworks. A year ago, the figures were 325 and 78 respectively. In 2021, the PECC recorded 357 complaints about the setting off of fireworks and 63 for the selling of fireworks

PICTURE: Pixabay

Mayco Member for Safety & Security, JP Smith, said Law Enforcement officers had their hands full responding to fireworks complaints in numerous areas, including Lentegeur, Weltevreden Valley, Rocklands, Delft, Gugulethu, Bonteheuwel, Pelican Park and Sea Point.

According to Smith, opportunists targeted pedestrians and motorists along Prince George Drive in the vicinity of Lavender Hill and Seawinds, as well as Parkwood, and Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain.

‘’The statistics show that there is a downturn in the bad behaviour that we've come to expect over the Guy Fawkes period, but the City recognises that this offers little solace to communities where the fireworks and anti-social behaviour continues, year in and year out.

‘’We also have to acknowledge the likelihood that not all incidents are necessarily reported. And, while our enforcement staff do their utmost to respond to incidents, it is a really tough ask, because the discharge of fireworks, or targeting of motorists and pedestrians is random, and the perpetrators disappear before officers arrive on scene,’’ added JP Smith, Mayco Member for Safety & Security.

Smith appealed to communities to report illegal activities.

‘’The City highlights the negative impacts of these bizarre celebrations each and every year, but snuffing it out is a shared responsibility and we appeal to more communities to stand up against these practices.’’

Done by: Mitchum George