The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate is bracing for an influx of fireworks-related complaints. In the run-up to Diwali and Guy Fawkes, residents are reminded that there are no designated sites for the setting off of fireworks and permits are required for fireworks displays.
Also read: Fireworks are not allowed without a permit – Here’s how to apply for one
Traditionally, October and November see an increase in complaints related to fireworks, particularly in relation to Guy Fawkes on 5 November.
The City of Cape Town did away with designated fireworks sites several years ago, and residents who plan to celebrate Guy Fawkes as well as Diwali on 12 November, are reminded that no fireworks display will be allowed without a permit.
Although there has been a downturn in complaints to the Public Emergency Communication Centre over the past two years, the number of calls remains of concern, particularly as many of the complaints stem from residential areas.
Fireworks complaints for the last two years reflect the calls to the PECC:
| Setting off of fireworks | Selling of fireworks | |
| October/November 2021 | 443 | 96 |
| October/November 2022 | 325 | 78 |
Those who want to host fireworks displays can apply for a permit in terms of the National Explosives Act and the Community Fire Safety By-Law.
Any event where 200 or more attendees are expected or that requires any infrastructure build will also require an events permit from the City.
Persons who would like to apply for a permit to host a fireworks display need to apply to the South African Police Service via email.
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If the application is approved by SAPS, they then have to make contact with the Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Life Safety Section in the area where they plan to hold the display so that a site inspection can be carried out to determine whether the site is safe for a fireworks display.
Apart from ensuring that there are no fire hazards in the immediate surroundings, permission also needs to be sought from residents and businesses in the area, and strict conditions have to be adhered to before and during the fireworks display to mitigate any potential risk to public health and safety.
The import and sale of fireworks without the necessary permissions outlined in the Explosives Act is illegal, as is the discharge of fireworks in an area not specifically designated for it.
In terms of Section 30 of the Explosives Act of 1956, the use or detonation of any fireworks in any building or public thoroughfare is liable to a R200 fine; selling fireworks to a child or anyone under the age of 16 is liable to a R300 fine; and allowing a child or person under the age of 16 to handle fireworks without adult supervision is liable to a R300 fine.
‘The authority to ban fireworks lies with national government, but the City will continue to do everything we can to ensure the safety of our residents. Our enforcement departments and animal welfare organisations have their hands full over this period, and so we appeal to the public to play by the rules and desist from the use of fireworks, unless they have the correct approvals. It’s simply not worth the risk of injury or fire,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith.
Anyone with information relating to the illegal sale or use of fireworks can report it to the PECC on 107 from a landline, 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or to the South African Police Service on 10111.
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