Fired up for ‘noisy’ fireworks

Madam – There are THOUSANDS of people in Newcastle who would like to see something done about fireworks that are exploded like it’s a Sunday school picnic.

The mayor of this town has won an award, but the wishes of the MAJORITY of citizens in this town are ignored? Why? I live in Pioneer Park with very few Indians if any living here, but it sounds like World War II here.

Once again: the majority of citizens do NOT want fireworks in our suburbs!!! The senseless and ridiculous noisemaking is unacceptable! Take it to the showgrounds or other open spaces – it DOES NOT BELONG IN SUBURBS! I hate every second of this time of year when immature “adults” find endless pleasure in making noise, EXPLODING dangerous explosives, with NO regard to animals or the wishes of the MAJORITY who DON’T want these stupid things to explode around us.

And once again: PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! It is inconceivable that a “city” like Newcastle doesn’t have any rules and regulations in place to regulate such an obnoxious habit, disturbing the peace and scaring animals to death!

My cats are running around in the house, not knowing where to hide, as their acute hearing makes it even worse for them! If the non-thinking culprits don’t care about other citizens who HATE this, what about defenseless and innocent animals? It’s NO fun for them!

Perhaps – god forbid that it does happen – if a child in Newcastle gets killed or loses a hand or eye, you WILL listen! Fireworks are EXPLOSIVES, with the potential to KILL and maim people and animals, and damage property.

And, what about the pollution? All the remains of these explosives are strewn all over the place, including in my yard! It’s dead against my wishes!

Mr Mayor, please do something about this unacceptable situation and get fireworks in Newcastle regulated. Our wishes carry more weight than the MINORITY who wish to waste money and disturb our peace, and scare our animals out of their wits! PLEASE!

One more thing: to talk to the politicians in this town, is as good as talking to a potplant – no reaction, no will to do anything and the people have to suffer, including our pets.

PLEASE conduct a survey and let the wishes be determined once and for all, to force the unwilling politicians to DO something about an unbearable situation. Most people I’ve talked to about fireworks, are dead against it. I hate it with a passion, as I think it is unnecessary and downright stupid. Not to mention the thousands of Rands exploded to disturb the peace and annoy the majority of us.

And lastly, if “adults” buy fireworks and allow their children to fire off these potentially dangerous objects, then someone else has to think for them.

REMOVE FIREWORKS OUT OF SUBURBS AND TAKE IT TO THE SHOW GROUNDS AND OTHER OPEN AREAS, WHERE THESE NOISE-LOVING CREATURES CAN MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS THEY WANT, AND THEN THE FIRE BRIGADE COULD KEEP AN EYE ON THEIR ANTICS! PLEASE!! DAMN IT!

Chris de Lange

Response from Mayor, Afzul Rehman:

The issue of fireworks is a sensitive one during this period as it has religious connotations for certain groups.

I do however agree that certain time limits should be in place. I don’t believe for example, that loud fireworks still need to go on after 10 pm! This limit must be done with consultation of the relevant affected communities.

Madam Editor, please ask your readers to refrain from insulting leaders of this town who try their utmost to respond to every request, issue or complaint. I am sure we have all been taught by our parents, the magic words used when we need to ask nicely. Unless of course, we have been raised by pot plants….