Hanover Park’s top cop has warned he will take action against all spaza shops and individuals selling klappertjies ahead of Guy Fawkes Day.
Acting station commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Dawood Laing, says officers will be tackling huiswinkels to see if they are selling fireworks without a permit.
“Every year it causes a headache for police because ahead of and on Guy Fawkes Day, the klappertjies start going and the officers don’t know if it’s gunshots or fireworks,” he says.
“It has already started and we are having difficulty as the gangs also use it as a tool to confuse the officers so they can shoot.”
He says residents sell fireworks to make extra money but warns those doing so without a permit face fines up to R5 000.
“Unless they have a licence to sell it, they can be fined and the fireworks confiscated. Every year on Guy Fawkes the children don’t go to school because of the smearing. Last year we recorded several injuries with people being cut with blades.
“People must also know that Hanover Park does not have a designated site for fireworks so they may not set it off in a residential area.”
Law Enforcement spokesperson, Wayne Dyason, says among some of the problem areas for the illegal sale of fireworks are Hanover Park, Parkwood, Manenberg and Bonteheuwel.
“At a shop in Pelican Park we confiscated 25 boxes of widow maker firecrackers and eight boxes of black spider crackers containing 60 pieces each.
“Officers also issued a fine of R1 500 for selling fireworks without a permit,” he says.