Guy Fawkes transgressors face fine or six months jail time, says Drakenstein municipality

CAPE TOWN - As November 5 looms and residents start buying their firecrackers to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day, the Drakenstein municipality warned the event was prohibited – with transgressors facing fines of up to R1 000 or six months imprisonment.

The municipal area covers Paarl, Wellington, Mbekweni, Gouda, Saron, Hermon and Simondium.

“We would like to remind the Drakenstein community that no one is allowed to discharge fireworks or cause fireworks to be discharged within the municipal boundaries,” the municipality said in a statement.

“The Drakenstein municipal council earlier approved a ban on the discharging of fireworks in the Drakenstein municipal area, with the exclusion of pre-approved events.

“This followed calls from residents, animal welfare organisations and the business sector for the municipality to review its position in terms of a ban on the use of fireworks.”

The municipality’s control of fireworks provides for the city manager of Drakenstein municipality – in collaboration with the executive mayor – to grant written permission to discharge fireworks, subjected to certain conditions, at special pre-approved events such as major sports events or cultural and religious festivals (eg Diwali/Deepavali (Festival of Lights).

The police and Drakenstein municipality’s Bylaw Enforcement division would confiscate fireworks found illegally in anyone’s possession, they said.

Separately, the City of Cape Town, since 2019, no longer provides designated fireworks sites for Guy Fawkes, Diwali and New Year’s Eve.

It recently said people wanting to host fireworks displays can apply for a permit in terms of the National Explosives Act and the Community Fire Safety By-Law.

It warned: “In terms of Section 30 of the Explosives Act of 1956, the use or detonation of any fireworks in any building and public thoroughfare is liable to a R200 fine; selling fireworks to a child or anyone under the age of 16 is liable to a R300 fine; allowing a child or person under the age of 16 to handle fireworks without adult supervision is liable to a R300 fine.”

People who would like to apply for a permit to host a firework display can email the SAPS capetown.explosives.cmrd@saps.gov.za, and copy the head of the city’s fire and life safety section in their application, Ignatius.smart@capetown.gov.za.

Cape Times