Cape Town - Guy Fawkes mayhem began early at Bergville Primary in Bishop Lavis on Wednesday, where children ran amok using socks filled with paint and stones to hit each other.
Principal Aleen Abrahams said many parents came to fetch their children before lessons started. “At the moment we have 40 percent attendance,” Abrahams said. “We had a situation this morning where parents came from home to collect their children, because they were busy with their crackers, running around with paint in their socks.”
Abrahams said the madness was not yet over.
The school had to employ extra people and call in the neighbourhood watch to guard the school grounds on Wednesday, as older boys from a nearby high school were expected to come and supply the younger children with crackers.
Principal Kathleen Highburg at Greenlands Primary, also in Bishop Lavis, said the worst was still to come.
“There are no activities here yet but it mainly happens after school, or during interval,” she said on Wednesday morning.
Attendance was poor on Wednesday, with only half the pupils in school – and said Highburg, the pupils who stayed at home caused the most havoc.
“They come and throw things over the fence during interval. That’s what happens every year.”
Highburg said the furore was definitely not just harmless fun.
“There is egg throwing, paint smearing, stuff like that,” she said. “Sometimes they use sharp objects in their hands, and it’s actually very dangerous.”
While schools were feeling the first wave of the mayhem, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA urged Capetonians to consider the “terrifying effect” fireworks had on animals.
Chief executive Allan Perrins said the SPCA strongly opposed the use of any fireworks, because of the trauma and injury they caused animals.
“Their natural response is to try and flee with potential tragic consequences.”
The Animal Protection Act states that “it is illegal to terrify any animal”.
Perrins said Guy Fawkes Day had nothing to do with “our proud heritage”. He said it was illegal for under-16s to use or buy fireworks, according to the Firearms and Explosives Ordinance.
“This year we will assume a zero-tolerance approach to offenders who will find themselves on the wrong side of the law should they choose to behave recklessly and act with indifference.”
Tips from the SPCA:
* Ensure all animals have identification; preferably a micro-chip or at least a collar with a name tag.
* Mask any noise by drawing the curtains and playing calming music.
* Give your pets a nutritious and balanced meal at night – this is likely to make them sleepy.
* Give them something to chew on – a chewy bone or catnip toys for cats.
* If you suspect your pet will react badly to fireworks, then seek professional advice from your vet who may prescribe a sedative to help them cope.
* Cover aviaries as it is not only dogs and cats that are susceptible.
The city has marked eight areas for the discharging of fireworks, between 6pm till midnight:
* Bishop Lavis sports field.
* Wesfleur sports field, Reygersdal Drive, Atlantis.
* Macassar Beach parking area.
* Swartklip Sports Complex, corner of Spine and Swartklip roads, Mitchells Plain.
* Maidens Cove parking area, Victoria Road, Camps Bay.
* Athlone Stadium parking area, Klipfontein Road.
* Strandfontein Pavilion.
* Beachfront opposite the Tourism Centre, Table View.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the city’s enforcement agencies would patrol hot spot areas.
He said last year a mob of about 100 young people had to be broken up at Town Centre in Mitchells Plain.
Cape Argus
No comments:
Post a Comment