Cape Town's Guy Fawkes chaos: Law enforcement officers targeted
Ahead of the festive season, a joint operation was conducted in Bonteheuwel involving Metro Police, Law Enforcement, SAPS and the City’s Fire Services to clamp down on the illegal sale of fireworks during the Guy Fawkes period.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Law Enforcement officers discharged rubber rounds after they were stoned and shot at by a group of people in Valhalla Park on Guy Fawkes day, while in Macassar, a group of children stoned a fire truck.
These were among a number of incidents recorded by the City in an apparent resurgence of Guy Fawkes related incidents this year.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said during the day, there were numerous reports of "mobs" in the hotspot areas like Lavender Hill, Parkwood, Woodlands and Bishop Lavis/Bonteheuwel.
Among the reports responded to were children stoning vehicles in Kleinvlei, illegal sale of fireworks along Jakes Gerwel Drive, stone-throwing and harassment of members of the public in Joe Marks Boulevard, Steenberg and a group of boys waiting to ambush learners outside a primary school in Hanover Park.
A group of approximately 70 people gathered at Strandfontein pavilion, setting off fireworks. They dispersed when Traffic Officers arrived on scene. A group of approximately 20 children were also reported discharging fireworks in Woodlands
“Unfortunately, as groups are constantly on the move, it is incredibly difficult to catch anyone in the act.
“Metro Police officers did issue a fine for the illegal sale of fireworks in Connaught Estate, Elsies River, while Law Enforcement officers confiscated a small number of fireworks in Tafelsig,” Smith said.
Fireworks complaints also increased. Last year the Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 74 incidents of the illegal discharge of fireworks and 20 relating to the illegal sale of fireworks between November 3 and 5.
“Statistics this year show that reported incidents more than doubled again, to 156 for the illegal discharge of fireworks and 21 for the illegal sale of fireworks.
“We acknowledge that the actual numbers are likely higher, as not all incidents are reported,” Smith said.
“The number of resources and time spent policing this so-called tradition that has nothing to do with our country, is simply absurd … especially considering that our enforcement services already attend to anywhere between 2 200 and 2 500 incidents on average, per day.
“There should be no place for Guy Fawkes in our society. The fireworks and violence do nothing but traumatise those in affected communities, and it is an unnecessary drain on emergency and enforcement resources.”
Cape Times