Fire and road accidents surge in Cape Town despite overall safety improvements
|Published
WHILE service departments in the City’s Safety and Security department saw a downturn in statistics, Fire and Rescue Services recorded a marked increase in motor vehicle and pedestrian crashes responded to.
Nearly 2 000 people were displaced in just four days due to a number of large informal settlement fires.
“I want to thank our staff for their efforts. Public safety over the festive season is a massive undertaking, particularly given how many people simply refuse to take responsibility for their own safety.
“The statistics indicate a slightly quieter December compared to the previous year, but there was still a lot to contend with. The increase in crashes that our Fire & Rescue Service attended to is a flag. Unfortunately, road safety and specifically the behaviour of drivers continue to be one of the myriad challenges we face,” said mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith.
Fire and Rescue Services responded to a total of 3 546 emergency incidents in December.
Among these were 2 056 vegetation fires, 212 (compared to 272 in December 2023) informal residential fires, 153 (194) formal residential fires, 432 (319) motor vehicle accidents, 173 (157) pedestrians knocked down and 130 (118) trauma incidents.
During the period, 11 (20) persons died as a result of fires.
During the festive season, the Disaster Risk Management Centre coordinated responses to four major informal settlement fire incidents in the space of four days. On December 23, 86 structures were destroyed in Masiphumelele, leaving 450 people displaced. On December 24, 53 structures were destroyed in Nomzamo, leaving 132 people displaced, and on December 25, 143 structures were destroyed in Dunoon, leaving 544 residents displaced, and December 26, 307 structures were destroyed in Langa, leaving 685 residents displaced.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 17 722 (21 020) incidents of which 38% were calls for medical assistance and 21% related to by-law transgressions.
They also recorded 1 965 (2 296) noise complaints, 979 (1 217) calls relating to assault cases, 514 (610) motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, 499 (568) cases of domestic violence, 202 (184) complaints about drinking in public, 143 (179) calls related to self-harm and 92 (118) complaints related to the illegal sale and/or discharge of fireworks.
Law enforcement officers made 1 163 arrests in December, and issued 31 846 fines for various transgressions. In addition, officers recovered 11 firearms, six imitation firearms and 135 rounds of ammunition.
They also confiscated 2 384,75 units of drugs.
Alcohol confiscations between December 1 and January 3 totalled 7 434 bottles, equating to just under 3 500 litres.
Cape Times