Harsh realities - Reported fireworks incidents in South Africa

VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS strives to raise public awareness of the harm that fireworks inflict on people, domestic animals, wildlife and the environment; and to convince KwaZulu-Natal's Hibiscus Coast Municipality to enforce a complete ban on the import, sale and discharge of pyrotechnics in its area of jurisdiction.

SNIPPETS FROM THE PRESS AND
E-MAILS RECEIVED

AGAINST FIREWORKS

Calls are growing for the government to ban dangerous fireworks. Mondli's traumatised mother, Esther Zisongo, says that although a ban won't help her son, it must be implemented before more children are permanently maimed.

I am horrified that crackers powerful enough to blow off a child's fingers are still on sale.

Our life and that of our dogs has also been a misery with continual fireworks for days and nights on end.

They started their “fireworks display” at around 8.30pm and it went on till past 1.30am

My doberman has seizures when fireworks are let off.

Last year, an Eskom electrical box caught fire in our area thanks to big bangs. It took hours before our power was restored.

There is no control over the sale of fireworks and I saw a group of children, the oldest probably 10 years old carrying armfuls of fireworks on 29th. Police were helpful but explained they were powerless unless we could identify the seller.

I personally will boycott Manaba Spar in future for selling fireworks. Maybe the cash jingling in their pockets helps them sleep at night through the noise.

We should not stop at our area but encourage people all over the country to follow suit. Many people who signed my petition come from other parts of the country and stand behind us 100%

I witnessed two teenage boys going around during the day setting off very loud crackers in the Uvongo area, even right next to my house until I shouted at them.

I am saddened and very angry to read that the fish eagle family has been scared away from their nesting site on the banks of the Umzimkulu.

Perhaps your efforts to rid the Hibiscus Coast of firework usage were not met because the visiting tourists were not aware of the bylaws.

I support any ban on fireworks. They are dangerous, destructive and cruel things, and I stand for all those animals who don’t have loving homes and protective arms to try and calm them when humans have fire display evenings.

Total ban of manufacture/import/sale of fireworks is the only solution.

FOR FIREWORKS

Surely they realise they are living in a popular holiday area and should expect different conditions during the festive seasons?

... we have never once had trouble with our dogs. We have trained them not to react to such explosions as those of fireworks.

... it is not the people who let off the fireworks who are the ones to blame, but instead it is the pets' owners who do not train their domestic animals properly.

I suggest that if the residents have such a problem with the festivities that they themselves go away for a holiday to a place they know will not have fireworks.

HARSH REALITIES

Reported South African fireworks-related trauma and accidents

THE HIBISCUS COAST EXPERIENCE
YEAR 2006/2007
	KZN: Children lose fingers in firework accidents Mondli Zisongo (18) weeps daily at the Addington Hospital for the three fingers he lost on his right hand when he lit firecrackers and held onto them, expecting them to give off sparks, not explode. At R.K. Khan Hospital there is a nine-year-old who only has the little finger on his right hand left. At Port Shepstone Hospital, a three-year-old had his middle finger amputated following a firework injury. The hospital treated three firework injuries, but this was the most serious. King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban received 15 firework victims on January 1, the youngest only five. The patients were either burnt on the hands and forehead or suffered damage to their eyes.
	Umtentweni: Thanks to the New year's Eve Party held at the Inkwazi Restaurant on the south bank of the Umzimkulu River, an irreplaceable asset has been lost: a treasured family of African Fish Eagle that has been resident in the valley for many years. All it took was 30 minutes of heart stopping, mindless detonating of explosives. Update: After 10 days the big male was located - all alone and not calling at all - obviously quite traumatised, but no sign of his mate or the chick. He seems to have moved way up the river towards the low level bridge miles away from the original nest. "But we are so happy to see him anyway even though his family unit has been devastated. We look out in hope every day to see if the others return…..”
	Southbroom: On Saturday, 23 December 2006 we were enjoying a pleasant family evening on the veranda of our home in Southbroom. Suddenly we were rocked by a tremendous explosion. Shocked, it took us a while to realise it was a “big bang” firework which appeared to come from across the road. Only then did we notice that Rambo, a friend’s beloved little dog we were looking after, had vanished. A frantic search finally located him, shaking and terrified, taking refuge behind one of the flowerbeds. After much soothing, he seemed to calm down and rejoined us on the veranda. A short while later though, a second blast shattered the night. Then our nightmare began. Rambo was nowhere to be found. Until 1 o’clock the next morning, we wandered the neighbourhood by torchlight calling and searching for him. But in vain. It is impossible to describe our mental anguish at the thought of the little dog we had come to love as our own, lost, alone and terrified somewhere out in the darkness. What would we tell Pam, our friend, who had entrusted her loving companion into our care? At first light, the search was resumed. We knocked on neighbours’ doors, waking them from sleep. We questioned passers by. The police and SPCA were contacted. To no avail. Finally, at 9 am we received the joyous call. Rambo was found! A kindly person in Ramsgate – 3 kilometres away – had discovered the Maltese and telephoned the number on his collar-tag. Exhausted, dehydrated and filthy with a sore paw, but otherwise unharmed, the little dog was reunited with his adoptive family.
	Ramsgate: We live in Ramsgate with our much loved and well adjusted 4 year old Staffie called Gaby. From mid December 2005 to +- 10 January 2006 she was reduced to a shivering, jumpy, panting, nervous wreck, owing to the incessant fire cracker noise. She went rushing into the shower – her "Place of Safety", every time there was a loud noise of any description. She still dashes off there if a car backfires - and we are now in mid February. I have discussed this problem with colleagues and friends, many of whom assure me that they have to sedate their animals during the "silly season". Gabs is a happy law abiding number who does not take medication for medical conditions so why should she be subjected to this for non-medical reasons? I had not thought about the wild animals before reading your article and my heart goes out to them as they do not have a safe "shower" cubicle to use as a bomb shelter, and loving parents to calm them down and reassure them during the fire cracker season. We are happy to be part of your worthwhile campaign in any way in which we can.
	Marina Beach: This was my first experience of 'season' and I was absolutely appalled. Fireworks going off practically every evening, goodness only knows what has happened to the duiker that used to walk across our lawn every evening, or the wood owl that was also a regular visitor. In addition of course any fond notion I may have had about being wined and dined on Old Years Eve had to be shelved as our dog got progressively more upset by fireworks as time went on - by Old Years Night she was practically catatonic and not in a fit state to be left. One spent a secluded night swearing appallingly at every cracker and banger !!

THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
YEAR 2008
	Durban: Two patients, ageing 32 and 34 had fingers amputated after crackers exploded in their hands during Diwali celebrations. Another patient was treated for burn wounds and discharged.
	Chatsworth: A 13-year old teenager sustained serious mouth injuries when a cracker exploded in his mouth. A 22-year old man sustained injuries to his left eye and forehead in the same area.
	George: A horse died tragically due to the trauma of fireworks: It tried to jump a fence when fire crackers went off. It hit the fence and burst its stomach and died due to its injuries.
YEAR 2006
	Durban's Golden Mile beachfront: An eight-month-old baby had to be taken to Addington Hospital soon after the countdown to New Year's Day after being hit by a cracker.
	Empangeni: A Doberman (8) died of suffocation when it became tightly wedged in burglar bars while trying to escape fireworks on New Year's morning. The dog chewed its way through a wooden window frame and smashed the glass in its frantic attempts to get inside the house of its owners. The dog got her whole head and shoulders through, but her pelvic area got stuck in the bars as she tried to get through. She hung in the bars until she died.
	Hermanus: A fire that broke out on the mountain above Hermanus on New Year's Eve is believed to be the work of a reckless fireworks enthusiast. The blaze was extinguished in five hours.
	Johannesburg: A family of animal lovers in Vanderbijilpark is grief-stricken because one of their seven dogs, presumably hit by fireworks, had to be put down. One side of her head and neck was burnt, everything was raw. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had to put her down because of the extent of her injuries.
	Port Elizabeth: Fireworks over the festive season drove at least two dogs to take desperate measures – smashing their way into their owners' homes to escape the loud bangs. …
	Port Elizabeth: A boy's (10) index and middle fingers had been amputated after a firecracker exploded in his hand. The boy lit the explosive on the kitchen stove, as there were no matches in the house. He tried to toss the cracker out the door, but it blew up in his hand, tearing it to pieces.
	Mnandi beach near Mitchell's Plain: A child lost three fingers in the worst of 15 Guy Fawkes fireworks accidents at the weekend.
	Port Elizabeth area: Eight dogs died and more than 60 were reported missing after fleeing in terror from suburban Guy Fawkes firework displays. The eight dogs that had died had been run over by cars after fleeing from areas where fireworks were exploding.
YEAR 2005
	According to the Department of Health and Social Development, 23 people were seriously injured by fireworks over the new year period - Mankweng hospital: 7 children and 1 adult were treated for facial injuries caused by fireworks. 3 children will be left permanently blind. Polokwane hospital: 1 child whose sight has been permanently affected will bear facial scars for the rest of his life.
YEAR 2004
	Witpoort (near Roodepoort): A house burnt down when its thatched roof caught fire from fireworks
YEAR 2002
	Port Shepstone (largest town on the South coast in South Africa): Two teenagers (18 and 15) are to appear in the Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court after they allegedly set off a firecracker in a dog's mouth. They are charged with contravening the Animals Protection Act. Graham Edwards, manager of the Lower South Coast SPCA, said the cracker had caused splitting of the dog's cheeks, gums and the roof of its mouth.
YEAR 1999
	Milnerton: A Guy Fawkes evening held at the Theo Marais Sports Club ended in disaster when a bakkie loaded with fireworks exploded, sending hundreds of people running for cover. Pyrotechnician Larry Kuiper, who was in the back of the bakkie at the time, was seriously injured when he was flung metres through the air by the violent explosion. His face was badly burnt and one of his ears was nearly ripped off. People dived for cover as shrapnel flew through the air.
	Athlone: A garage shop and a hairdressing salon were destroyed in a fire caused by fireworks in the second major Guy Fawkes accident this weekend.
	South Africa: At least two dogs died and more than 150 were listed as runaways during the weekend's noisy celebrations of Diwali and Guy Fawkes. Reported by the Durban and Kloof branches of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.