City of Cape Town Safety and Security staff were inundated by fireworks complaints and domestic violence calls this past weekend.

They also confiscated a large amount of drugs.

The Mayco-member JP Smith says Guy Fawkes weekend is always busy for our enforcement staff, and this weekend was no different.

‘Guy Fawkes weekend is always busy for our enforcement staff. Not only are people ignoring the fact that it’s illegal to set off fireworks in a residential area, but we have children and teenagers who take the opportunity to get involved in criminal acts. This past weekend officers confiscated a large number of socks filled with rocks and paint, as well as fireworks from small shops not licensed to sell them.

‘While no special operations were planned, our enforcement staff worked additional hours on Guy Fawkes day and did more proactive patrols. This has paid off as the number of fireworks related calls to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) dropped compared to last year.’

The PECC recorded 247 complaints about the setting off of fireworks (357 last year) and 45 for the selling of fireworks (63 last year).

Smith says there is a growing call for a ban on fireworks, but only the national government has the authority to do so.

In addition, this past weekend the PECC recorded 2 850 incidents, up from 2 203 the weekend before, which included 204 assaults, 50 domestic violence cases and 48 motor vehicle accidents and 27 pedestrian-vehicle accidents.

‘The previous weekend 30 domestic violence calls were received and the near doubling of the figure week on week is disconcerting. The scourge of attacks on our women and children must stop. Gender based violence affects the whole community and it is the responsibility of everyone to put end to GBV,’ said Smith.

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.

Metro Police: 

Officers made 89 arrests, of which 40 were for the possession or sale of drugs.

On Saturday Metro Police Officers arrested a suspect for the possession of an illegal firearm or zip gun in Steenberg.

Just after 13:00, officers were on crime prevention patrols when they received information about a male person carrying a rifle on his back.

The officers located the suspect at Edward Street and confiscated the zip gun he had in his possession.

The 38-year-old man was arrested and detained at Muizenberg Police Station.

On the same day, swift reaction of the Metro Police officers led to the arrest of a suspect for possession of drugs valued at R10 000 in Zonnebloem.

Officers attached to Anti-Economic Crime Task Team were busy with crime prevention patrols when they received information about a man selling drugs at Springfield Street in the parking area.

They saw the suspect throw the drugs one side and arrested the 51-year-old.

The drugs confiscated include seven dagga bankies, 67 units of cocaine, nine units of crack cocaine, 15 ecstasy tablets and cash.

In another incident, officers arrested a suspect for the possession of a firearm and ammunition in Strand yesterday.

Just before 17:00, officers were on patrol in the area, when they spotted two men loitering on Brown Street.

As the officers approached, the men ran away. One of them was quickly apprehended and found in possession of a 38 special revolver, with six rounds of ammunition.

The 26-year-old suspect was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and detained at Strand SAPS.

Also in Strand, while doing crime prevention patrols, officers spotted two men on bicycles who appeared nervous.

After permission was sought to conduct a search, one of the men was found in possession of thirty-one whole Mandrax tablets.

The 39-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of drugs and also detained at Strand SAPS.

Law Enforcement:

In addition to responding to fireworks and related complaints, Law Enforcement officers made 179 arrests of which 102 were made by Law Enforcement Advance Plan officers for the possession of drugs.

Traffic Service:

Cape Town Traffic Services held integrated roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints and speed control operations in the week of 30 October 2022 to 5 November 2022.

A total of 31 332 speeding offences were recorded, 29081 fines were issued for various traffic violations. In total 180 public transport vehicles were impounded and 1708 warrants of arrest were executed

A total of 125 arrests were made for the following offences:

• 99 for driving under the influence of alcohol

• 14 for reckless and negligent driving

• 12 for other types of arrests (stolen vehicle, false documentation, assaulting an officer)

Drunk driving and drag racing operations in Brackenfell, Hout Bay and Sea Point Sunday saw an additional nine people arrested for drunk driving, 2 176 offences recorded during these operations which included 34 vehicles suspended for unroadworthiness and 1 241 speed offences.

The new Highway Patrol Unit recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested its driver over the weekend.

A traffic officer was on duty at a broken down vehicle on the N7 when the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) dash cameras alerted him that a vehicle passing by was stolen.

He pursued the vehicle and stopped it near Dunoon, where the adult female driver was arrested for being in possession of a stolen motor vehicle and detained at Milnerton police station.