Cape Town - The number of reported incidents in the city during the Guy Fawkes weekend has dropped compared with the past years.
The City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 247 complaints about the discharging of fireworks and 45 for their illegal sale. Last year it received 357 and 63 complaints respectively.
Safety and security mayoral member JP Smith said Guy Fawkes weekend was always busy for the enforcement staff. He said this was not only because people were ignorant about the fact that it was illegal to set off fireworks in a residential area, but children and teenagers took the opportunity to get involved in criminal acts.
He said that over the years there had been increasing reports of vehicles being stoned as they drove through some suburbs, and the discharging of fireworks had been flagged as responsible for displacing domestic animals.
Smith said that at the weekend officers confiscated a large number of socks filled with rocks and paint, as well as fireworks from small shops not licensed to sell them.
“While no special operations were planned, our enforcement staff worked additional hours on Guy Fawkes day and did more proactive patrols,” he said.
Animal Welfare Society of South Africa said the vet had so far received four calls about distressed animals.
Spokesperson Allan Perrins said the most distressing case involved a male ginger cat which had a chunk of his tail blown off by a cracker strapped to his tail. He said the animal was still very traumatised but responding well to treatment.
Perrins said the most problematic areas were Rocklands and Tafelsig in Mitchells Plain.
The vet’s staff also came under attack at about 2.30am on Sunday when five men ambushed them in a botched smash-and-grab on Weltevreden Road in Philippi.
Perrins said the robbers lobbed a brick through the driver’s window, smashing it but missing his face.
Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie, who supports the ban on fireworks, said one of the biggest challenges for residents was to differentiate the sound of fireworks from gunshots.
“More concerning is that parents continue to support the sale of firecrackers. Even though there is legislation and by-laws in place to curb the sale of firecrackers and to effectively ban them, there are certain laws that don’t need the police to police, but need self-regulation, and we are calling on parents to take responsibility,” he said.