Arrests and fines have been issued to offenders operating fireworks without a permit over the festive season.
According to Douglasdale Community Policing Forum and Londoloza spokesperson Danielle Dooley, Douglasdale and Honeydew SAPS along with Londoloza protection group, performed operations on 31 December.
Later in the evening, six suspects (street vendors) were approached by Douglasdale Police and Londoloza.
The units were met with aggression from the suspects, they then arrested and confiscated fireworks from the street vendors.
They were arrested for illegally storing and distributing fireworks without a permit.
General manager of Londoloza, Allan Baubry comments, ”One of our teams assisted the Douglasdale Police Station in the arrests regarding the street vendors illegally selling and storing fireworks without permission or a permit from either the city or a chief fire officer.”
The Douglasdale Police did not comment by the time of going to print.
There are a number of regulations that entail the use and distribution of fireworks.
In terms of the City’s bylaws, no person should use fireworks within 500 metres of any explosives factory, explosives storage place, petrol depot or petrol station, inside any building, at any public place or at any school, old age home or hospital.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar commented, ”A fine of R1 500 would have been issued to any person deemed to have broken these laws.”
In order to have a fireworks display, permission must first be first sought in writing from the fireworks working committee or from the chief fire officer in that particular region.
The application must reach the committee or the chief fire officer 14 days in advance to allow members of the public to launch any objections.
If approved by the council, it may require that the fireworks display be presented only on ”suitable premises designated by the council and under the supervision and control of an official designated by the council,” says Minnaar.
On days of cultural and religious celebrations (between 7pm and 10am), no permission is required to use fireworks but it must be done within the times stipulated by the City’s bylaws.
A R500 fine will be incurred if a person is found letting off fireworks on these days outside these times.
Details: Londoloza Protection group, www.protectiongroup.co.za or 011 795 0800; Douglasdale SAPS, 011 699 1300; Honeydew SAPS, 011 801 8400.
