Chaos in Parkwood on Guy Fawkes Day
It was a busy weekend for law enforcement agencies who responded to firework-related and other complaints in communities across the metro.
On Saturday, November 5, the streets of Parkwood were filled with young people who brandished plastic bags filled with paint to smear anyone they came across and there were several complaints about some of those youngsters who assaulted pedestrians with rock-filled socks.
Grassy Park police officers, under the leadership of station commander Colonel Dawood Laing, were operating in the area on Saturday as part of combined efforts along with the City’s Traffic Services.
Colonel Laing confirmed there were several complaints of people who were assaulted with stone-filled socks but only one person opened a criminal case.
“We had an operation plan to avoid the chaos that usually happens on Guy Fawkes Day and we had a few successes including the confiscation of an illegal shebeen and an Ottery dealer with 47 units of tik and cash,” he said.
Law Enforcement officers also made 179 arrests of which 102 were made by Law Enforcement Advance Plan officers for the possession of drugs.
JP Smith, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral committee member for safety and security, said the weekend is always busy for our enforcement staff: “Not only are people ignoring the fact that it’s illegal to set off fireworks in a residential area, but we have children and teenagers who take the opportunity to get involved in criminal acts.”
He added officers confiscated a large number of socks filled with rocks and paint, as well as fireworks from small shops not licensed to sell them.
“While no special operations were planned, our enforcement staff worked additional hours on Guy Fawkes day and did more proactive patrols. This has paid off as the number of fireworks related calls to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) dropped compared to last year,’ said Mr Smith.
The PECC recorded 247 complaints about the setting off of fireworks compared to 357 last year and 45 for the selling of fireworks compared to 63 last year.
There has been a growing call for the ban on fireworks, but only the national government has the authority to do so, said Mr Smith.
Mr Smith said domestic violence and noise complaints spiked this past weekend and spiked from last week’s 30 domestic abuse calls.
“The PECC recorded 2 850 incidents, up from 2 203 the weekend before, which included 204 assaults, 50 domestic violence cases and 48 motor vehicle accidents and 27 pedestrian-vehicle accidents.
On Saturday October 29, the Steenberg Community Police Forum (CPF) patrolled in Retreat and confiscated fireworks and illegal goods and raised awareness of safety linked to upcoming events, including the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign and the festive season.
To report the illegal discharge of fireworks, residents can also call the City of Cape Town’s Emergency Contact Centre on 107 from a landline or 021 480 770 from a cellphone.
Colonel Laing also advised residents to be more vigilant and careful as October, November and December are high crime months.
“Gang violence also increases because gangs want to get more territory and make more profits over the festive season. People should not walk around with large sums of money because they open themselves up to being robbed.”
Residents can report any criminal activity or emergency by contacting the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline as well as 10111 or the MySAPS app.