Celebration bonfires with tyres make a comeback in Govan Mbeki Municipality
Law enforcement officers removed several bonfires, citing non-compliance with municipal regulations, while residents voiced mixed reactions on social media.
Community members in eMbalenhle have revived the bonfire tradition used to welcome the new year.
However, in some townships, such as Kinross (Afghanistan) and other areas, Govan Mbeki Municipality’s law enforcement officers removed several bonfires, citing non-compliance with municipal regulations.
In a statement, the municipality advised residents to refrain from setting up and lighting bonfires near homes, on roads, under power lines, or close to municipal infrastructure. It further stated that bonfires should be set up only in open spaces, away from residential areas.
The municipality also warned against burning tyres, saying they emit toxic smoke and harmful heat gases that pose serious health risks and can cause fire damage if not adequately monitored or controlled.
However, these warnings have drawn mixed reactions from community members, with some accusing the municipality of selective enforcement when removing bonfires.
Residents claim that some bonfires were dismantled despite allegedly meeting the municipality’s required safety precautions.
