Public will need to apply for permits for firework displays in 2020
23 September 2020
As was the case in 2019, fireworks displays will only be allowed where a permit has been applied for in terms of the relevant legislation.
Persons wishing to host fireworks displays will be able to apply for a permit to do so, in terms of the National Explosives Act and the Community Fire Safety By-Law.
Any event where 200-plus attendees are expected, or that requires any infrastructure build, will also require an Events permit from the City.
The City wishes to reiterate that, while it has, in years gone by provided designated fireworks sites, there is no obligation to do so and since 2019 has no longer provided designated fireworks sites for Guy Fawkes, Diwali and New Year’s Eve.
Chapter 11 of the Community Fire Safety By-law, which deals with fireworks, states that A controlling authority MAY set aside municipal land for the purpose of the letting off of fireworks by the public, subject to such conditions as may be determined by the controlling authority and indicated by a notice at the site.
‘As we indicated last year, the public will need to apply for a permit for a fireworks display as we no longer provide designated sites. There is growing public sentiment opposing the use of fireworks, and we have also seen a decreased appetite from subcouncils to approve designated sites. Add to that the cost of running the sites and making resources available to monitor activities and clean up the aftermath, a picture emerges of why the designated site allocation is not feasible. Furthermore, the designated sites have done little to deter the illegal discharge of fireworks in residential areas, which is an ongoing problem.
‘Unfortunately this was misinterpreted as a ban on fireworks, when it was first implemented, but I would like to remind the public that only national government has the authority to ban fireworks. Firework displays can still be applied for, in terms of the relevant legislation,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Persons who would like to apply for a permit to host a firework display need to apply to the South African Police Service via email, on capetown.explosives.cmrd@saps.gov.za. They can copy the Head of the City’s Fire and Life Safety Section in their application – Ignatius.smart@capetown.gov.za
If the application is given the go ahead 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 public is reminded that 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 and 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; allowing a child or person under the age of 16 to handle fireworks without adult supervision is liable to a R300 fine.
Members of the public with information relating to the illegal sale or use of fireworks should report this to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or to the South African Police Service on 10111.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
