SPCA wins fireworks court battle with Ekurhuleni

THE WAR against fireworks heated up as the SPCA won a major court victory against the City of Ekurhuleni, and authorities move to clamp down on the sale and use of fireworks.

On Thursday, the High Court in Johannesburg granted the Kempton Park SPCA’s request for an interdict against the City of Ekurhuleni’s planned fireworks show at its New Year’s Eve celebration.

In bringing the action, the SPCA chapter argued fireworks needed to be banned to protect animals that might be frightened by the noise.

In a statement, the city said its joint organising committee had, on December 21, rejected the use of fireworks.

According to the statement, “the rejection for a fireworks licence was based on the proximity to the residential area and flights passing to and from OR Tambo International Airport”.

Spokespeople from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department were unavailable to comment on how the department might enforce such an interdict, if necessary.

The City of Ekurhuleni had boasted on social media that its New Year’s Eve celebration at Dries Niemandt Park, would be the “biggest NYE fireworks display in South Africa”.

There were complaints on Facebook about the display, with one person threatening to sue the city if it planned another show.

The city blamed the advertisements on “pre-programmed social media” written before the organising committee vetoed the fireworks.

On Facebook, SPCA Kempton Park wrote: “Fireworks are traumatic for all animals, not only our pets. They are also very distressing to small children, the elderly and the infirm. It’s unnecessary to cause undue stress.”

Ekurhuleni’s festivities will still include pyrotechnics and musical performances.

On Thursday, a 60-year-old man was arrested in Pinetown for dealing in fireworks valued at R350 000 using a fake licence, KwaZuluNatal police said.

Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said the Durban Explosives Unit had arrested a shop owner in the Pinetown CBD. The suspect would appear in court soon.