Resident’s pleas were heard and the application for permission to allow a fireworks display at the Portuguese Hall on New Year’s Eve was not granted.
“Good morning Mr Van Vuuren we as Del Judor Ext 4 residents know and understand that you and your team have quite a difficult decision to make with regards to the fireworks at the Portuguese Hall but please we ask as an entire neighbourhood please do not allow fireworks to happen there again our pets and small children get totally terrified. Please here our plea. Thank you we trust you’d will make the correct decision,” is amongst the messages Mr Theo van Vuuren, Municipal Manager received.
“Fireworks are not animal-friendly. Invariably, when communities celebrate with fireworks, animal shelters are overwhelmed by an increased number of stray animals and reports of injuries and trauma to animals,” another resident wrote on Facebook.
Residents started ‘lighting’ up Facebook with remarks about the areas demarcated for fireworks.
“The annual problem with fireworks seem not be simple and whatever solutions we try always will make some happy and some not. The three problem areas this year were the Portuguese Hall, which was not included in the original approval list with the community in the area also submitting a petition against it. However, many people also wanted the area to be used for fireworks. As we also received many complaints the previous year the decision not to allow it stood,” Van Vuuren said.
He then moved his attention to Klipfontein Dam and said that is also a problem area when it comes to fireworks.
“This is a public open space and the only area in that side of town that is available. After publishing the list of areas demarcated I also received a petition while the debate and slander against especially me as person regarding this matter became embarrassing on Facebook. The matter was again referred to our Community Services for investigation and their recommendation was to retain the area as if it is disallowed at the last moment the people will either just shoot fireworks all over in the street or disregard the notice.”
Van Vuuren said the third area was the sports ground at Phola where on December 31 a group objected in strong terms against it.
“In that case they may have submitted valid arguments but it was too late to consider with everyone already informed. We did not receive any other objections prior to New Year’s Eve,” Van Vuuren said.
The law enforcement unit was ready and when the unit received sporadic complains, mainly from areas not demarcated, they followed up swiftly.
This peaked after midnight with many people shooting fireworks in streets or stands all across the city.
On Facebook 70 complaints were received and 40 complaints were received by the law enforcement unit.
“The unit was deployed on all calls but could not get to everything due to capacity and logistical reasons. In some areas they were supported by the Community Policing Forums (CPF). This seems to be the model to be followed in future with the CPF, SAPS and law enforcement unit working together and we will be trying to implement this going forward in more intensity,” Van Vuuren said.
In general no serious incidents were reported or encountered and in all cases people were asked to stop which they did at least while officers were on the scene. People were warned and fines were written.
In Ext 41 a lapa was partially burned by fireworks but the owner managed to put it out.
“It is evident that banning or trying to contain fireworks on the last day of the year is very difficult and no rules will be followed. To totally ban it will just result in people shooting all over the city at a much larger scale as at present. We have however already started negotiations for this year with people selling fireworks to only sell those with limited noise capacity. If we can achieve this most of the problems will hopefully be addressed. The institutional model of the SAPS, CPFs and municipality working together holds promise as well,” Van Vuuren said.
Ms Natalie Colledge from the local SPCA said they had 41 animals that ended up at the SPCA after being terrified by fireworks.
Good news is that 15 animals were reunited with their owners. A bit of bad news is that a horse and five dogs were injured during the fireworks displays.
Local vet, Dr Nolan Landman said it is impossible to explain the fear pets go through when fireworks go off.
“Animals have hypersensitive hearing compared to ourselves, so a bang which sounds loud to us must be deafening to a dog. Animals do not understand what’s going on. There’s nothing natural about the sights and sounds of a fireworks display. To an animal, it may be like the worst ever thunder and lightning storm. We can not even start to understand what they are going through,” Dr Landman said.
