About 10 000 people visited Maiden’s Cove on Guy Fawkes as the City of Cape Town law enforcement had a busy weekend.
The City said just under 30 000 people visited the fireworks sites across Cape Town, and fire and rescue services had recorded 32 injuries.
The worst one was in Table View, where a 14-year-old boy lost part of three fingers on his left hand while handling an exploding firework.
He was treated by medical staff on scene before being transported to hospital.
Some 15 000 revellers had visited the Table View beachfront to light fireworks.
City law enforcement received 528 complaints about the illegal sale of fireworks on Saturday November 5. Overall, officers confiscated 1 250 boxes of fireworks and 10 distress flares and issued 23 fines totalling R34 500 for the illegal sale of fireworks.
JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security, said: “I am satisfied that the City did everything possible to ensure the evening was well managed. The injuries are very unfortunate, especially with the number being higher than the previous year. Fireworks are dangerous and need to be handled with care.”
He said Guy Fawkes continued to be a “massive headache that we can frankly do without”.
Elsewhere, traffic officers arrested 182 people and issued 833 fines for various offences, including:
66 arrests for outstanding warrants.
36 drunk driving arrests at roadblocks.
80 arrests for drunk driving, reckless and negligent driving, possession of drugs, and resisting arrest during various operations across the city.
The seizure of 26 sedan taxis during operations in the CBD and Sea Point.
Metro police arrested 13 people for various offences, including possession of drugs and dangerous weapons, in recent operations, including a joint one with other enforcement agencies at city night clubs on Thursday November 3.
