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- The municipality of eThekwini has appealed to the public to celebrate the New Year peacefully.
- Residents have been asked to light a candle instead of fireworks.
- In the event that members of the public discharge fireworks, they must do so in accordance with the statutes.
The eThekwini Municipality in Durban has called on the public to hold peaceful New Year’s Eve celebrations and adhere to the statutes when unloading fireworks.
Durban Metro Police Department spokesman Chief Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad urged residents to distance themselves from fireworks to celebrate the New Year and instead light a candle, as suggested by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“We urge residents to hold peaceful celebrations for 2021 to arrive by lighting a candle in their homes as a tribute to the lives lost as a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic, and also recognize the contribution of frontline workers.” Sewpersad said. .
Sewpersad added that if the public plans to light fireworks, they must do so responsibly, taking into consideration the health and safety of pets.
Keep pets safe
“Pets must be kept away from fireworks and must have an identification tag with the owner’s details, including their address and contact number.
“Fireworks are allowed only on New Year’s Eve, from 11:45 to 00:15. There are statutes governing the lighting of fireworks and fines will be issued if someone is caught violating this.
“Fireworks must be restricted to the property of a person and must not be lit on a public road.
“Residents could face fines of up to R3 500 as the admission of guilty fine for discharging fireworks on the highway is R1 000, and the fine for discharging fireworks in public is R2 500,” Sewpersad warned.
According to the statutes:
- Low-risk fireworks, such as fountains, lawn lights, and flashes, can be lit in private homes.
- Fireworks such as air bombs, supersonic explosions, sound projectiles, fountain whistles and screeches are prohibited as they cause a nuisance and annoyance to neighbors.
- The ordinance also stipulates that children under the age of 16 must be properly supervised by an adult when setting off fireworks.
- Fireworks should be set off away from hospitals, clinics, nursing homes / senior citizens, animal welfare, and gas stations. Fireworks must not be pointed at anyone as this is dangerous.
- No person may light, discharge or explode fireworks on any public road, residence or private home without the knowledge and consent of the occupant or owner of the property.
- It shall be illegal for any person to point or direct a firework at any person, animal, building or motor vehicle where said firework is in the process of exploding or detonating.
- No person may light or detonate fireworks in any place where animals are kept.
- No person may terrorize, stress or endanger the life of any animal with fireworks or by any other means.
- Residents are also reminded that fireworks cannot be recycled and must therefore be disposed of properly, in black garbage bags.
- The municipality urges residents not to dispose of fireworks in orange trash bags, as this is considered unsafe as fireworks cannot be recycled.
Sewpersad said the Durban Metro Police Department has been inundated with calls and complaints about some Queensburgh residents setting off fireworks on a public road.
FULL SPEECH | Ramaphosa warns of grave danger by announcing stricter restrictions
“We have the full support of the National Tax Authority to bring those culprits to the book. They will face the full power of the law. This also applies to residents in all areas of the City.”
– Compiled by Alex Mitchley
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