Fires and fines make for a busy weekend
07 December 2020
The City of Cape Town's Fire & Rescue Services responded to nearly 300 fire related incidents this past weekend. Other enforcement departments made 152 arrests and issued more than 5 000 fines for various transgressions.
'Our firefighters brought their A game as they battled 292 fires between Friday and Sunday. While most of these were grass or bushes that were alight, there were 23 informal and 24 formal residential fires. Their jobs are made all the more difficult when they come under attack from the very communities they are trying to save. I appeal once again to residents to respect the job our firefighters do in difficult circumstances,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith.
A water tanker from Lakeside was damaged on Saturday, 5 December after a brick was thrown through the windscreen and the firefighters were threatened at the scene of a fire in Overcome Heights by the community.
A crew responding to an informal structure fire in Khayelitsha, also on Saturday, had to be escorted by police. No injuries were reported in either fire.
'The sheer number of fires responded to in just one weekend is proof that our firefighters give it their all to save lives and property. The attacks on first responders are the work of cowards and criminals. Communities need to step up and not only condemn these acts, but also report the perpetrators. The very lives of residents are at stake if firefighters are prevented from doing their jobs,' said Alderman Smith.
In addition, the City's Metro Police, Traffic Service and Law Enforcement Departments arrested 152 people for various transgression.
Drunk drivers made up 53 of those arrested of which 42 were taken into custody while taking part in illegal street races.
'Drunk driving alone is a high priority and we are doing everything possible to curb it. Now it is combined with a dangerous and illegal activity and the potential for disaster is multiplied. Our departments will continue to clamp down on this activity and arrest those who clearly show no regard for their own lives or those of other road users,' said Alderman Smith.
Metro Police officers made 10 arrests for the possession and sale of drugs during various patrols and confiscated the following:
On Thursday, LEAP officers were performing visible patrols in Philippi when they came across a man who ran when he saw them. The officers gave chase and caught up with the suspect. He was in possession of a Smith and Wesson revolver with six rounds of ammunition. He was arrested and taken to Nyanga police station.
On Friday, LEAP officers on patrol in Delft were stopped by a resident who had seen a man hiding an item on a field between bushes. The officers investigated and found a black plastic bag which contained a 9mm short pistol with five rounds in the magazine. The firearm was booked in at Delft police station.
Also on Friday, LEAP officers on patrol in Atlas Street, at the N2 Gateway, heard several gun shots and proceeded in the direction where the shots came from. They saw a red vehicle speed away, gave chase and when they cornered the car, four men jumped out and started running. The officers chased them down and arrested three of the men. The officers also retrieved objects the men had dropped and confiscated two firearms.
‘Our Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers have excelled once again this past week. This joint initiative between local and provincial government is making our most vulnerable communities safer. Every success of the LEAP officers is a win for the community, and every weapon confiscated is one less to cause murder and devastation,’ said Alderman Smith.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
