Fireworks In South Africa - Know The Law!!!

Know the law, report offenders and make your voice heard.

*The explosives Act No 26 of 1956. This law applies nationwide with no exceptions.

It is unlawful to discharge any firework in any building, on any public thoroughfare or in any public place or resort without prior written permission of the local authority. (Section 10.34) Section 10.35 relates to public displays of fireworks and states that no person may do so on any premises without the written permission of the Chief Inspector of Explosives (commonly known as “having a permit”). This written permission will stipulate conditions and any non-compliance with them is a criminal offence.

In terms of the Explosives Act, no person shall allow or permit any children under the age of 16 to handle or use fireworks except under the supervision of an adult person. This Act is enforced by the South African Police Service (SAPS) not by the SPCA. Please report any offences to your nearest SAPS, giving as many details as you possibly can and quoting the Act name and number plus the relevant section as given above. Ignorance of the law is no excuse-penalties are severe.

Do not be afraid to report offenders, using fireworks on private properties. We are referring to domestic properties in this section and to shop-bought fireworks. Whether or not it is legal to set off fireworks on a person’s own property is governed by the local by-laws. In some areas, no firework may be set off at any time without the written permission of the local authority. In other areas, it is permitted to set off fireworks on specified dates between certain times on domestic properties.

Please check local by-laws and make sure the by-laws you examine or are referred to are the most up-to-date ones. Many Municipalities amended their by-laws recently specifically on the issue of fireworks. Your Council or your local SPCA should be knowledgeable on the situation in your area. In some areas, the discharging of fireworks could be an offence in terms of noise pollution. It is worth checking – and it is always worth reporting any untoward or hooligan use of fireworks.

How to keep your pets safe

Many domestic animals are frightened by loud noises, particularly the loud bangs and piercing sounds produced by fireworks. To avoid distress you should take appropriate measures to ensure the well being of your pets. If you are unsure as to how your pets will be affected, note that animals that are sensitive to thunderstorms are likely to react similarly to the noise of fireworks. If you are at all unsure of your pet’s reaction it is best to take precautionary measures.

Fireworks are a cause of panic for many pets and we hope that these tips will help keep your animals happy and safe – More family pets will run away from home during holidays involving fireworks than any other days of the year. As a precautionary measure in case your pets are frightened and run away, make sure your animals have identification tags or microchips to ensure that they are returned safely when they are found.

If possible, stay home with your animals if you suspect fireworks are about. If you can’t be home with your animals, keep them inside. Make sure that your pets have access to their favourite “safe place” or find a quiet, comfortable, enclosed room where your pets can “hide” if they need to. Ensure that they cannot break through a window or slip out of a door.

Attempt to mask any noise by drawing curtains and playing calming music at a reasonable volume

Put familiar and comforting things around them such as toys, baskets etc. Provide them with something to do such as giving your dog a chewy bone or lots of catnip or a catnip toy for felines.

Witbank Animal Clinic was contacted about what tranquilizers can be given to their dog and cats. The vet recommended ACP and it takes 40 minutes to work and last for approximately seven hours. The vet asked if you could please bring your pet in so the correct dosage is given. (Information supplied by the Public Relations Department of the NSPCA – visit their website at for more information.)

A few facts:

Unless special Council authorization has been applied for and granted, there are only 11 days annually when residents are allowed to “light or ignite” fireworks. Guy Fawkes and Divali are such days. (R500 fine on other days). Except for New Year’s Eve, the only permissible time period for igniting fireworks on these days is between 19h00 and 22h00 (7 to 10 pm). (R500 fine at any other time).

No person may light or ignite fireworks in any place where animals are present (R1 000 fine). This includes domestic homes. No person may allow any minor (child) under his or her control to “use, light or ignite” fireworks (R1 500 fine). No exceptions to this rule. No person may use fireworks on any agricultural holding or at any school or senior citizens’ residence without special Council authorization (R1 000 to R1 500 fine). This authorization must be sought well in advance of intended day.

No person can use fireworks within 500 meters of any petrol depot or petrol station without special Council authorization (R1 500 fine).

No person or organization can “present a fireworks display” unless formally authorized to do so by the Council (at least 14 days’ notice before the display is required by Council to consider such an application). Authorization is also required from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Chief Inspector of Explosives. (Multiple fines of R1 500 are applicable).

Join The Fireworks Banning Initiative

Welcome to the Firework Banning Initiative, which was first started in 2006 but was inactive between 2008 and 2010 because I was busy establishing the Hopeful Foundation (http://hopeful.ws), It is due to the failure of all existing strategies and groups and a significant increase in the misuse of Fireworls in the 2009 festive season that I decided to revive the campaign in 2010.

If you believe, as I do, that fireworks should be banned, below are the steps you need to take to get involved:

1. Sign the petition: http://www.change.org/…/south-african-government-ban-firewo…

Please do NOT send out this link alone for people to sign. This campaign is a LOT more complicated than just a petition, and if people only sign the petition we will fail.

2. Go to the forum: http://hopeful.ws/arf/index.php?gid=33 and read the campaign Overview, then follow the instructions.

3. Read the Campaign Blog http://fbi.hopeful.ws

4....and send the Blog address to your friends, or send this Group address to your Facebook friends so they can join the campaign: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fireban/

5. Share the YouTube Movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCQak-ysuHc

6. Download and read the 'Case against Fireworks' which is constantly being updated, and distribute it to others: http://hopeful.ws/arf/viewthread.php?tid=692

7. Please go to 'Notifications' for this group, above right, and select "All Posts" - that way, you will know what is going on here all the time.

Be prepared to take action. This campaign will take the concerted effort of many people - just joining the group will do absolutely nothing; there is a need to influence Government and a petition alone will not do this....

Derek

Firework Banning Initiative
http://fbi.hopeful.ws

Letters to my BFF - Part 1

It seems just like yesterday that I met you...
At first glance. Your eyes... Your smile... Your hair... Your laugh... Nothing seemed too perfect...

But I had no idea what was in store for me, since our meeting...

3 Months later you had moved in... Living with your boyfriend was no trouble at all. It was comforting, to watch you live a happy life, knowing that your future would be a happily married couple together..

It was the year 2000, I remember it clearly... The day was sunny.. a few clouds in the sky... warm.. it was quite a day as I drove your boyfriend to pick you up... in fact, I remember it also being about 2 hours to get there.. In my shoddy little car... with a sticker on the side petrol cap, that read the name of a band, I once managed... "Paper Clip" it read... resembling an image of nothing more than the name itself. A paper clip...

I remember waiting in the car for quite some time... It was not the official day we had met... This was to come about 2 / 3 months later.... I had to wait in the car that day.. Leaving you both some privacy and some time together... I spent that day just waiting...

I guess, I was waiting because it's what I find myself doing now still.
(Which we will get into later.)

--- Finally the day came..

You were moving into our little apartment... it was a 2 bedroom flatlet. at the lower level. 1st floor. I was bewildered at the beauty that would greet me... (as mentioned above) Your eyes, and smile. everything.. at first I thought it was just the physical attraction, and really thought not much of it...

After all, you were my mates woman...

As we all lived together, we decided we would move out into a bigger place together.. It was then, that I knew that we had more in common than I ever thought..

Apart from the past, having similarities in taste in music, your current lifestyle had changed, and your music style was exactly not my forte.. Sufficed to say, neither was my taste in music for you...

(Perhaps a reminder of darker times in your past? A question I never asked, and will never know)

I had worked for a pretty reputable retail company, and your boyfriend James an IT job and was well versed in web design etc...

Because of my company shifts, I had spent much of my days off with you.. (As I'm sure you will remember one such day)

You were now pregnant, and expecting your very first child. You were having morning sickness, and had a headache... it was nearing the time James was due to return home for lunch before he went back to work..

Although quite a drive on his bike, he still came to see you every lunch time and stayed for 30 minutes...

Prior to his arrival, I offered to give you a massage, relieving all the pain and discomfort out of your head, Your headache, eyes and nausea had been treated, and you were feeling better...

It was then as you and I started sharing our stories and beliefs... Mostly bordering on music, and Elves and Fairies, all the fantastical creatures we believed existed and we made that final connection..

Nothing more happened then. We never did anything, except talked. James came home and you to had lunch together, he had seen me massage your shoulders. and this had irked him, which later came to play that evening...

Well. I must say, later that evening there was hell to pay.. I was in my room, reading I think, or was it me hiding because I heard him hitting cupboards, and angrily raising his voice at you. For no idea at the time, which only later on, I found out...

It was because he caught us talking and me massaging your shoulders and relieving your pain.

It was only once he left the house that night in a rage, drove off on his bike to cool off, that I came into the room to the damages in the room.

But the biggest damage was only later revealed to me in our friendship... <3

It was then, that I knelt down on both my knees and I made a solemn promise to you, that I would always be there for you till the day I died...

Do you remember these days? any detail of it? I know this is my side of the story and maybe one day you will read these letters here and you will remember your side of the story...

Fred <3

Picture of the Day

Peaceful and beautiful.. Keep it that way. Love Nature.