De Wet’s comments about new year in Mbombela
De Wet expresses his views on the recent outrage on social media regarding the illegal use of fireworks
Mbombela did not ring in the new year in a festive mood. The city sounded more like a war zone somewhere in Syria, with pyromaniacs running wild, turning suburbs into cacophony of deafening explosions of fireworks and crackers.
It was hell for the petrified animals and Lowvelder did report on the horrific deaths of pets at the hands of these lawless deviants.
We also reported that the police came under fire from the public about, what they deemed, to be a lack of response against the illegal use of fireworks over the festive season.
There was an outcry on social media about fireworks causing extreme trauma to animals on the New Year’s Eve. This follows an SPCA Barberton post on Facebook – a photograph of a dog that was impaled on a fence. Another post surfaced – that of a dog run over in Steiltes. This resulted in a fury of comments regarding the lack of police presence to curb this same issue.
This chaotic situation should never be repeated in the future. If a total ban on fireworks cannot be implemented, we need at least, a long term strategy to protect the rights of law abiding people and ensure the safety of their beloved pets.
Therefore, we welcome Mbombela station commander, Brig Gerrie Agenbag’s perspective that everybody should be working together to prevent the illegal use of fireworks and that they should only be used in designated areas. “The police and the community now have an entire year to devise a plan to curb the problem,” he promised the people of Mbombela.
At Lowvelder we are with you every step of the way in this regard, brigadier. We pledge our support and will be the eyes, the ears and the voice of our readers, informing the public and exposing the culprits, in particular, those who sell fireworks illegally from their boots of their cars and in shops.
