Südafrika / South Africa
2009
Sicelwini in Mancini/Central Swaziland. A
middle-aged man suffered injuries to two fingers and a thumb by a firecracker he
was playing with when ushering into 2009.
Source: "Fingers lost to
firecracker", 3.1.2009, http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=554
Johannesburg. A 35-year-old man was blown into pieces
by prohibited fireworks that went off at the Crown Mine factories, south of
Johannesburg. The man's torso was found 70 metres from the scene while one of
his legs was found on top of a 30 metre high factory. The massive explosion,
followed by two minor ones, was heard about 8 km away from the scene. Two
factories caught fire following the explosion and three trucks were damaged in
the fire. Two men who were with the man who was killed allegedly fled the scene
following the explosion. - The fireworks believed to have caused the explosion
are called 14-inch cake shells and they are prohibited in the country. 24.9.2009
Source:
"Residents rattled by explosion", 24.9.2009, http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=22614
"Fireworks blow Jhb man apart",
24.9.2009, http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/7ccaf333ed1e4806adf6eb8674b0ed9b/24-09-2009-10-52/Fireworks_blow_Jhb_man_apart
"Man blown to pieces by fireworks", 25.9.2009, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20090925042336687C593055
"Man dies in mysterious explosion
at factory", 25.9.2009, http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1069655
Welbedacht (suburb of Durban). During the weekend's
Diwali celebrations, a boy (9) placed a firework in his mouth and sustained
minor injuries. 17./18.10.2009
Source: "Boy loses fingers during
Diwali", 20.10.2009, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=vn20091020042002515C170644&set_id=
Welbedacht. During the weekend's Diwali celebrations, a
nine-year-old child suffered severe damage to his hand when a firework exploded.
Two of his fingers were amputated. 17./18.10.2009
Source: "Boy loses fingers during
Diwali", 20.10.2009, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=vn20091020042002515C170644&set_id=
2008
Durban.
A girl (5) suffered firework-related burns over 14 percent of her body.
23.10.2008
Source:
"Four hurt by fireworks in Durban", 28.10.2008, http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=872426
Durban.
Three persons were injured while lighting fireworks during Diwali celebrations
in the city: An eleven-year-old child was treated for a cut to his forehead, a
nine-year-old boy's left eye was injured. A man (29) was treated for a piece of
a firecracker embedded in his arm. 27.10.2008
Source:
"Four hurt by fireworks in Durban", 28.10.2008, http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=872426
"Eight injured by fireworks in Durban", 28.10.2008, http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=11983
"Diwali cracker explodes in teen's mouth", 29.10.2008, http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4684366
"Fireworks-related
injuries mar Diwali celebrations", 29.10.2008, http://www.themercury.co.za/?fArticleId=4684969
Durban.
A 13-year-old boy was admitted to hospital's intensive care unit after a
firecracker exploded in his mouth. The boy had lit a cracker and placed it
inside a pipe outside his home in Bayview, Chatsworth. When it did not explode,
he went to check it. "He put his head inside the pipe and that is when it
burst, flying into his mouth," a neighbour said. The boy suffered severe
burns. 27.10.2008
Source:
"Four hurt by fireworks in Durban", 28.10.2008, http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=872426
"Eight injured by fireworks in Durban", 28.10.2008, http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=11983
"Diwali cracker explodes in teen's mouth", 29.10.2008, http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4684366
"Fireworks-related injuries mar Diwali celebrations", 29.10.2008, http://www.themercury.co.za/?fArticleId=4684969
"Fireworks
explode in teenager's mouth", 29.10.2008, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20081029115352524C714189
Beacon Bay. Spaddles, a six-year-old ridgeback,
apparently reacted in terror to the noise of exploding fireworks and jumped over
a two-metre high wall into the neighbour's yard. The dog, which was strangled by
its collar and chain, was found hanged by the neighbour. 31.12.2008
Source: "Dog strangled fleeing
fireworks", 3.1.2009, http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=283027
2007
Port
Elizabeth. A marauding gang of about 80 teenagers discharged fireworks, tried to
kick down lampposts and threw fireworks at people who tried to stop them in Mill
Park's Young Road. 27.10.2007
Source: "Teenagers go on the rampage in Mill Park", 29.10.2007, http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n10_29102007.htm
At
least 14 Eastcoasters were injured during the weekend's fireworks display at the
Durban Diwali Festival. It is believed a pyrotechnical problem caused one of the
fireworks from the fireworks display to malfunction and flew over the crowd.
3./4.11.2007
Source: "Dud to blame for display chaos", 6.11.2007, http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20071106104634187C427388
City
of Cape Town. Three children were admitted to the Red Cross Children Hospital
for fireworks-related injuries. 5.11.2007
Source: "City thanks residents for safe Guy Fawkes Night", 6.11.2007, http://bushradionews.blogspot.com/2007/11/city-thanks-residents-for-safe-guy.html
Alexandria.
A boy (14) had to have his right middle finger amputated and other fingers
stitched after a firecracker exploded unexpectedly. He had been playing with his
friends when the firecracker went off and burnt his fingers.
Source: "Alexandria boy, 14, loses finger in Guy Fawkes accident", 7.11.2007, http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n14_07112007.htm
Pietermaritzburg.
A woman had lit a sparkler and handed it to her son (4) at their home in
Northdale. The boy took fright and threw the sparkler, which landed under a bed.
The woman tried to retrieve it, but the mattress caught alight. Two people, who
were asleep on the bed, escaped injury. One room in the home and the roof had
been severely damaged. 10.11.2007
Source: "Firework sets house on fire", 12.11.2007, http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20071112031220756C403336
2006
Durban's
Golden Mile beachfront. An eight-month-old baby had been taken to Addington
Hospital soon after the countdown to New Year's Day after being hit by a cracker.
1.1.2006
Source:
"It's a happy new year", 2.1.2006, http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=500&fArticleId=3051042
"It's
a happy new year for Durban's lifeguards", 2.1.2006, http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20060102111920632C429808
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, 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. 1.1.2006
Source:
"It's time to ban fireworks", 3.1.2006, http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1857990,00.html und
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n15_06012006.htm
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. 1.1.2006
Source: "Eco disaster looms as fires rage on", 3.1.2006, http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=271&fArticleId=3051638
Johannesburg. Lady, a dog of a family in Vanderbijilpark, presumably hit by fireworks, had to be put down. One side of her head and neck was burnt, everything was raw. 1.1.2006
Source: "Fireworks kill family pet", 2.1.2006, http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1857599,00.html
Port
Elizabeth. Fireworks over the festive season drove at least two dogs to take
desparate measures – smashing their way into their owners' homes to escape the
loud bangs. …
Source:
"Dogs break into homes to escape terror of festive fireworks", 6.1.2006, http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n15_06012006.htm
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. 24.10.2006
Source: "Boy loses two fingers in fireworks accident", 27.10.2006, http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n05_26102006.htm
Mnandi
beach near Mitchell's Plain. A child lost three fingers in the worst of 15 Guy
Fawkes fireworks accidents at the weekend. 4./5.11.2006
Source: "Guy Fawkes accident: child loses fingers", 7.11.2006, http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=14&art_id=vn20061107053730220C586976
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. 4./5.11.2006
Source: "Dogs killed in traffic as they flee noise of Guy Fawkes firecrackers", 7.11.2006, http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n16_07112006.htm
2005
According
to the Department of Health and Social Development, 23 people were seriously
injured by fireworks over the new year period. Eg.
-
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. 6.1.2005
Source:
http://www.northernmedia.co.za/modules/news/print.php?storyid=378
2004
Witpoort
(near Roodepoort). A house burnt down when its thatched roof caught fire from
fireworks1.1.2004
Source:
"Hundreds homeless after Joburg fires", 1.1.2004, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1072966501356B216
2002
Port
Shepstone.
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. 3.1.2002
Source:
"Boys held for cracker in dog's mouth", 3.1.2002, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct20020103202408416F620569
"Crackdown
on crackers coming" (South Africa, 8.1.2002)
Time
is running out for those who insist on setting off fireworks whenever they feel
like it – the police are drafting tough legislation which will bring an end to
the noise and trauma caused by crackers and firebombs.
Source:
"Crackdown on crackers coming", 8.1.2002, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct2002010810252375F620397
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.
Source:
"Man hurt as Guy Fawkes event goes awry", 5.11.1999, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct19991105232225178G000238
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. 6.11.1999
Source:
"Guy Fawkes accidents prompt call for ban", 6.11.1999, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct19991106210723148B423716
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, the Durban and Kloof
branches of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals said on Sunday.
7.11.1999
Source:
"Traumatised dogs given shelter at SPCA", 7.11.1999, http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct1999110722522360S12065