08/12/2023
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Social media is abuzz with protestation and speculation that the V&A Waterfront intends to host a New Yearβs Eve fireworks display.
Earlier today we confirmed that contrary to a 2020 commitment wherein it was agreed that fireworks will be precluded from any future events they went ahead and applied for permission to discharge fireworks.
We (and I believe this applies to everyone in the Animal Welfare profession) intend to challenge their about-turn that is tantamount to a declaration of war on innocent animals who will suffer terribly should the fireworks display proceed.
Our Mandate includes the prevention of animal cruelty and we will act without fear or favour against anyone found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering β which will happen should the fireworks display go ahead.
βWe hope that we do not have to resort to punitive measures and that the event organisers will come to the realisation that Cape Town abhors fireworks. There is no point in us proposing that they do a cost benefit analysis as there are no benefits to be had by letting off fireworks. We sincerely hope that they will retract their ill-considered application in favour of doing something spectacular that we can all enjoy without causing distress and harm to animalsβ said Allan Perrins spokesperson for the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa.
According to Alderman JP Smith who is the Patron-in-Chief of the Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF) that represents 59 animal welfare organisations in the Western Cape, βthe City does not approve fireworks displays through the events permit process. The events permit is issued based on various other safety, emergency, policing, events regulations and other requirements. Fireworks displays are approved by SAPS in terms of the National Explosives Act. The Cityβs Fire Safety By-law requires sign-off on the pyrotechnics but the Waterfront has not made an application for this yet. Alderman Smith made it clear that he supports the use of alternatives to fireworks and reminded us that he was part of the CAWF delegation that handed the V&A Waterfront a petition in 2020 requesting them to desist from using fireworks.β
We implore the Minister of Police to deny the V&A Waterfront their ill-considered request. Its approval would send mixed messages to hooligans looking to capitalise on every loop hole in the law. Please do not allow this to happen on your watch Sir.
