In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, authorities in Krugersdorp were rounding up thousands of illegal fireworks throughout town.
Pyrotechnic substances, better known as fireworks, are largely regarded by the Explosives Act of 2005 as ‘illegal’ when: A person is in possession of explosives/ fireworks or carries out any activity relating to explosives unless he/ she holds a licence, permit or other authorisation by a proper governing body to do so.
Also, no person may sell, deal in or act as a broker in explosives except when the above authorisation applies. For more information, refer to sections 2, 13, 15 and 19 in the Explosives act.
With the law at their backs, three large fireworks operations were conducted by Krugersdorp, Kagiso and provincial police, Public Order Policing, Roodepoort Explosives Unit, Public Safety, political offices, emergency services, community safety, Community Policing Forums, Disaster Management, Fire Risk Management and various other services.
An estimated 5 000kg of fireworks were seized, at a street value of about R350 000.
