Fireworks worth R500 000 confiscated in Tshwane

Spokesman Console Tleane said the fireworks, which filled a medium-sized truck and three bakkies, were confiscated following a raid by the multi-disciplinary task team of the Tshwane Metro Police.

He said the raid was part of an ongoing operation to ensure that fire safety issues were adhered to.

The confiscation was the second after the city's metro police also confiscated a truckload of fireworks in Marabastad on Tuesday.

Spot fine

During the raid on Wednesday, fireworks were found all over the shop, which was a violation of the certificate that the storeowners had.

Tleane said the certificate stated that the fireworks must be displayed in a designated place inside the shop and that they could not exceed 500kg.

The owners were fined R7500 on the spot for illegal possession of fireworks and their certificate was also immediately withdrawn.

Tleane warned that businesses selling fireworks without a certificate of registration would receive a spot fine of R2500 with an additional fine for any other fire safety violations found.

The Tshwane operation comes after a recent inspection by the multi-disciplinary task team of 77 fireworks outlets found that only 31 were compliant.

The team also found that 11 of the outlets were not complying with regulations, 15 wished to no longer sell the fireworks and two licences were revoked.

Only eight of the 77 outlets were awaiting approval of their licences.

Source: Sapa

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