Crackdown in Bonteheuwel sparks mixed reaction ahead of Guy Fawkes

Officials meant business when they carried out a multi-departmental crackdown in Bonteheuwel on Guy Fawkes day, targeting the illegal sale of fireworks, anti-social behaviour and confiscated a large amount of fireworks, knives, a zip-gun and a paintball gun resembling an assault rifle.

This was just the beginning for the officials which included SAPS, Metro Police, Fire and Rescue Services, and City health inspectors, which targeted those involved in paint-smearing and vandalism. Officers were also on high alert for makeshift weapons and contraband, particularly in areas known as hotspots for crime and festive mischief.

Guy Fawkes 2025, for some is just another day, but for many residents living on the Cape Flats, they were fearing the worst.  Nightmare celebrations has seen people being stoned, burnt with acid and dogs wounded in the most imaginable ways.

The Cape Argus crew went on a ride along with ward councillor, Angus Mckenzie during the operation.

From the start, it was clear officials meant business. Police confiscated knives, a zipgun, and a paintball gun resembling an assault rifle from a dilapidated former preschool now overrun by illegal occupants. Several boxes of fireworks were also seized, prompting a heated exchange between officers and a woman claiming she had bought them legally.

Dozens of law enforcement officers swarmed the streets on Wednesday, in a high-visibility operation which authorities hailed  a success, some residents were less impressed.

“Here is my receipt,” one woman shouted as law enforcement uncovered another stash at a local residence. “I bought them from the shop — those are mine.” Despite her protests, authorities insisted the items were confiscated because the sale and possession of fireworks without a permit is illegal.

At another residence, inside what appeared to be the kitchen, law enforcement found the paintball gun, which was a replica of the assault rifle lying on a table next to kitchen utensils.

It was a scene which has become familiar for the officers.

Elsewhere, a young boy assured officers he would not light fireworks before dark, showing that some residents were unaware of the regulations. Meanwhile, a group of parents argued that officials were being too heavy-handed when a group of children, covered in paint, were reprimanded.

“Leave them alone,” said one bystander. “They’re just kids. We did the same when we were young.”

Ward Councillor Angus McKenzie, who joined the operation, said officers were responding to multiple complaints about children pelting vehicles with paint-filled condoms and smearing passersby with paint.

“These operations are about creating awareness and showing that we’re on the ground,” McKenzie said. “Taking people into custody is a last resort — we’re here to address the problem, not just fill up jail cells. People are often back on the streets within hours, so our focus is prevention and education.”

Although no arrests were made during the operation, McKenzie said the day’s efforts sent a clear message: the sale and use of fireworks is completely illegal without a permit. He also lamented the role some parents play in encouraging anti-social behaviour, which complicates enforcement.

The City of Cape Town confirmed that complaints about fireworks have been declining over the past two years. Between November 3 and 5 2024, the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded 74 complaints about the illegal discharge of fireworks, down from 191 recorded the previous year. Complaints about illegal sales dropped from 32 to 20.

Fire and Rescue Services also reported no incidents linked to Guy Fawkes in 2024. However, hotspots such as Mitchells Plain, Bonteheuwel, Lavender Hill, Heideveld, Manenberg, Ocean View, and Grassy Park remain areas of concern. In the first 20 days of October alone, PECC recorded 45 incidents of illegal fireworks discharge, with more than half occurring over just four days from October 17.

The Animal Welfare Society of SA in Philippi told Cape Argus  it was on high-alert for incidents and reported that it had already treated a Boerboel for an injury to its paw after it ran into a glass door to escape the sound of the fireworks in Heideveld.

Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member JP Smith welcomed the downward trend but warned against complacency.

“In a city where we grapple daily with violent crime and gun violence, Guy Fawkes as a concept is nonsensical and trauma-inducing for many,” Smith said. “We will continue deploying resources to known hotspots, but we also need the public’s help to report criminality.”

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Cape Argus