Youths threw stones and burnt tyres during unrest in parts of the Western Cape yesterday (November 5), with the violence coinciding with Guy Fawkes celebrations. 

The violence occurred in parts of Steenberg, Lavender Hill and Parkwood, causing damage to some homes. 

Guy Fawkes Day in South Africa is an annual local adaptation of the British November 5 tradition, which commemorates the failure of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot to blow up England’s Parliament.  

Lavender Hill resident Estelle Vorster (39) says this was the third time her home was damaged by stone-throwing on Guy Fawkes. 

“This behaviour by little children and young adults started three years ago on Guy Fawkes. I don’t know how it is linked to the day, but these young boys throw these big rocks at our home and they burn tyres,” says Vorster. 

She visited her cousin, who lives nearby, earlier in the day, and suddenly they heard people screaming. 

Street looked like a war zone 

“I looked outside and there were these young boys throwing rocks, some slightly smaller than a soccer ball, at some of the homes. It was chaotic. The street looked like a war zone.” 

Moments later, Vorster was informed that the windows in her home had been broken. 

“I rushed to my house and when I got inside, there were glass pieces everywhere – on our beds and in my kitchen sink. It was a mess. My heart sank seeing my home in this condition and now having to replace the windows.” 

She says that with the help of her cousin and children, they cleaned up the glass and placed wooden boards on some of the broken windows. 

“These young children were out of control. I had a burning tyre just outside my gate and a neighbour put out the flames. Calm was restored to the area when police arrived. Last year, they damaged my roof and, the previous year, they damaged the window.” 

Vorster says she hopes police intervention will stop the behaviour. 

High-density deployment 

Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel FC van Wyk says police in Steenberg received complaints of public violence, and the station commander and other officers went to the scene. 

“Upon their arrival, they found young boys who were throwing stones at each other, affecting road users and causing damage to property. Immediately, crime operations in the Steenberg area were heightened, with high-density policing by local police, the Anti-Gang Unit, Public Order Policing, metro police and law enforcement, who were deployed in the area.” 

Arrests 

Police arrested three men aged between 19 and 21 for public violence, and they are due to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. 

Van Wyk says police are waiting for seven boys aged between 13 and 17 to come forward. 

“They were found to be inciting and being part of this public violence.” 

He says police will remain on the ground to bring an end to any acts of violence that may threaten the safety of the public. 

“Police will not tolerate any acts of criminality. In the event of crime taking place, our members will not hesitate to take decisive action. Police would not be turning a blind eye to lawlessness,” says Van Wyk. 

Earlier this week, Caxton Network News reported on Toheer Lewis (8) from Manenberg, who reportedly died as a result of a firecracker. Following his death, civic organisations and Cape Town authorities urged residents to be vigilant as complaints about illegal fireworks increased ahead of Guy Fawkes. 

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