NOT A FAWK

BONTEHEUWEL mense had their Guy Fawkes celebrations klappers confiscated as authorities clamped down on the illegal activities. 

SAPS, metro police, fire and rescue services, and city health inspectors all teamed up, focusing on the illegal sale of fireworks and rising acts of vandalism.

Past Guy Fawkes days on the Cape Flats has seen people being stoned, burnt with acid and dogs wounded in the most imaginable ways.

On Wednesday, police confiscated knives, a zipgun, and a paintball gun resembling an assault rifle from a dilapidated former preschool now overrun by illegal occupants. 

Several boxes of fireworks were also seized, prompting a heated exchange between officers and a woman claiming she had bought them legally.

Ward Councillor Angus McKenzie said the raids also targeted a spate of incidents where youths were pelting vehicles with paint-filled condoms and smearing passersby. 

He said: “Law enforcement and city officials are taking this opportunity to be a visible presence in the community.”

No arrests were made, but McKenzie hailed the operation as a success. 

He explained: “Taking people into custody is a last resort. It’s important to address the problem rather than just throwing people in jail, especially since they will probably be back on the street within hours.

“These operations will continue throughout the day and into the night. They are about creating awareness that Guy Fawkes activities, including the use and sale of fireworks, are completely illegal.”

He said officials had confiscated numerous fireworks and dealt with paint-smearing incidents that often involve children. 

“It’s sad to see the support they get from parents. It just makes it harder for us to do our job,” he said.

During the raids, community members expressed mixed reactions. Some parents protested when officials reprimanded children covered in paint. 

One woman shouted: “Leave our children alone. These are children. Let them be children. We also did it when we were young.

At another scene, a young boy assured police he would only set off fireworks at night when “allowed.” 

Meanwhile, in a house that used to be a preschool but is now overrun by illegal occupants, a woman argued when her fireworks were confiscated, showing a receipt from a “reputable” seller.

McKenzie said there were a few cases where contraband and makeshift firearms were recovered. 

He wysed: Today has really been about showing the community that we are on the ground, doing everything we can to keep Bonteheuwel safe, especially on a day like Guy Fawkes.”