This weekend, Cape Town firemen reacted to 48 informal structure fires, and nine individuals died over the course of 24 hours, from the early hours of Saturday to Sunday, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The Fire and Rescue Service, along with all other law enforcement agencies, were kept very busy.
‘It was a grim weekend for our firefighters as they battled 48 informal structure fires in which nine people lost their lives,’ said the City’s mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
‘I want to extend my condolences to the families. Fires are devastating and traumatic for all those involved. As we head into summer and much higher temperatures, I want to encourage residents to exercise caution at all times with open flames whether fires, candles or cooking methods.’
‘The unlawful occupation of land creates a number of challenges for the City and this includes our emergency and enforcement responses to incidents. Our officers are on scene in record time, but are hampered by other factors such as access. Current legislation urgently needs to be amended to prevent the proliferation of land invasions, which exacerbate fire risks.’
In the first incident, four people died from burns in an early morning fire on Manuel Street in Wallacedene on Saturday. Three of them were children.
At 4:40am, firemen doused a fire in Bida Crescent, Victoria Mxenge, and discovered the deaths of a man and a woman.
At around 4:50am, firefighters reacted to a wendy house fire in Epping Forest, where they discovered the body of a minor beneath the wreckage. Two additional people were displaced but unhurt.
Just after midnight on Sunday, an emergency call was received reporting structures on fire near the Chris Hani High School in Khayelitsha.
By 1:45am, the fire had been out, but two adults, whose genders were unknown, had died from burn injuries.
All of these instances were turned over to the South African Police Service for further investigation.
In terms of enforcement, 298 people were detained by city authorities throughout the last week on various counts.
Traffic authorities apprehended 52 people, 36 for driving under the influence, 11 for reckless and careless driving, and five for other offences.
They registered 56 923 crimes, seized 226 public transport vehicles, and served 2 040 arrest warrants.
On the N1 northbound late Saturday evening, a traffic cop was injured in a hit-and-run just before the Okovango Bridge while aiding at the site of a fatal accident involving a biker and a pedestrian.
The driver of the white bakkie that struck the officer fled the scene.
Law enforcement agents arrested 199 people for possessing drugs, ammunition, and deadly weapons.
Metro police officers arrested 47 persons and issued 3 223 fines.
This weekend, the Public Emergency Communication Centre received 1 813 calls, including 147 incidences of assault, 62 motor vehicle accidents, and 47 domestic violence complaints.
Residents are reminded to report any criminal activity or emergency by contacting the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
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Picture: JP Smith / Facebook