Has this country become immune to violence against animals, women and children? Has corruption and believing we are above the law made us lose our ability to feel compassion and love for others? Have we become a nation that puts self interest before anything else?
These weighty questions are asked in the petition that approximately 25 concerned residents, accompanied by Ward councillors Ingrid Reinten and Pat Brugman-Richards delivered to the Fairland Police Station on 9 September. This petition, already signed by 3 900 community members, requests that the police enforce the regulations concerning fireworks and the eventual banning of fireworks.
“Fireworks cause havoc for animals,” veterinarian Mike Sema said at the meeting.
“We vets see horrific cases due to fireworks – we see dogs jumping through glass, reflexively catching fireworks, cats panicking and jumping onto barbed wire fences. People throw fireworks at animals to catch, and the damage is unimaginable. Animals become unmanageable as a result of panic. And fireworks poses potential injury to innocent people as well. What are we as a community going to do to stop this?”
There are Noise and Pollution Legislation Acts and Municipal by-laws in place in our city but, the petitioners told the police, they are not being enforced. The municipalities, the petition says, have effectively failed their residents by not enacting the legislation and by-laws, in fact, they are protecting the interests of the inconsiderate and self-indulgent more than those of community-minded citizens.
“As a community, we need to protect our families, our young children, our animals and our wildlife from harm,” Taryn Coghlan, the petition coordinator said.
“Over the last couple of weeks, with the limited time that we had, I have put out a petition in the Fairland, Berario, Northcliff and surrounding areas. The support for enforcing the regulations and eventual banning of fireworks was overwhelming. We have over 3 900 signatures to present to you with many still coming in as we speak.”
The petitioners aim to start small – the plan is to prevent residents without permits from setting off fireworks, and targeting vendors selling fireworks illegally.
They’re appealing to the community to help out – if you see illegal vendors or people setting off fireworks in a way that contravenes by-laws be proactive. Let the Fairland Police know by either reporting it at the station, or reporting it on their Facebook page – South African Police Fairland.
Fairland Police and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department have said they will lend their cooperation to this effort.
“We will help to enforce this,” Johannesburg Metro Police Department representative Sergeant Daniel Mametja said.
The anti-fireworks petitioners, with the help of the police, will start with the Diwali festival in October and the Guy Fawkes festival in November.
“We need to do this for the sake of our wildlife, our children and our animals,” Coghlan said.
“We are supposed to protect them. Can we allow this as human beings?”
*If you want to sign the petition email Coghlan at Taryn.Coghlan@gmail.com or alternatively, add your name to Greymont’s petition online at https://greymont.co.za/
