Cape Town - Law enforcement officers had their hands full over the weekend combating criminal and violent behaviour associated with Guy Fawkes celebrations.
This as the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) said 334 calls related to the illegal discharge of fireworks between November 1 and 5 were received, while 61 calls about the illegal sale of fireworks were received. Of these calls, 81% were received on Guy Fawkes Day.
In Macassar, eight children were taken to the police station and handed over to their parents after they were caught attacking a Waste Mart truck.
Metro police spokesperson Ruth Solomons said the group pelted the staff and vehicle with stones, as well as with balloons containing paint and other liquids. A metro police vehicle was also damaged when an officer tried to assist, she said.
Solomons said that in Bishop Lavis officers came across a large group of children in the roadway while responding to a complaint of fireworks being discharged, but they ran away when they spotted the patrol vehicle.
In Lavender Hill law officers battled with groups of youngsters attacking motorists along Prince George Drive.
An elderly male was thrown out of his wheelchair and the chair was taken by the youths, while a motorcyclist fell off his motorcycle after a bottle was thrown at him.
Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason said that people returning home from work were also attacked by these groups, and robbed. Dyason said the illegal sale of fireworks was also a problem, but frequent checks of shops helped control this.
Meanwhile the Cape of Good Hope SPCA said Guy Fawkes resulted in a 48% increase in regular after-hours admissions.
Animal Welfare Society of South Africa spokesperson Allan Perrins said two injured dogs and a cat were admitted. One of the dogs was found hanging off a fence, impaled through his penis, while another cut her front leg trying to jump a fence. At least 100 calls were received from owners asking for help, with the majority received from Delft. Eight calls were received from owners whose pets had gone missing, said Perrins.
“In our opinion fireworks should be banned. Guy Fawkes is tantamount to animal cruelty, and why we as South Africans choose to celebrate this senseless occasion that has nothing to do with our heritage is mystifying,” said Perrins.