Nokubonga Ndlovu|Published
The City of Cape Town has warned residents on the Cape Flats not to buy firecrackers this Guy Fawkes, with the noise it causes known to mask gun violence.
With the November 5 just over a week away, and Diwali on November 8, the City said it is facing a sharp spike in complaints regarding the unauthorised sale and discharge of fireworks.
The City identified several primary hotspots driving the statistics, including Manenberg, Eastridge, Beacon Valley, Atlantis, Heideveld, Hanover Park, Belhar, and Bonteheuwel.
Municipal authorities have issued an urgent warning to residents that fireworks displays remain strictly illegal without formal permits.
Figures from the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) show complaints have risen steeply between September and October.
No designated sites
During the first three weeks of September, the centre received three complaints regarding illegal sales and six regarding illegal discharges.
By comparison, the first three weeks of October saw complaints climb to at least 13 illegal sales and 49 unauthorised discharges across municipal suburbs.
Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, described the surge in illicit fireworks as disappointing, stressing that unauthorised fireworks pose a major hazard to vulnerable neighborhoods.
“The illegal discharge of fireworks has no place in our society. Not only is it a noise nuisance to others, but also a source of absolute terror for domestic pets and communities plagued by gun violence.
“There is also the risk of fires and injuries, and the added workload on enforcement and emergency services staff who must deal with these issues.”
City officials reiterated that Cape Town provides no designated sites for setting off fireworks during Guy Fawkes, Diwali, or New Year’s Eve.