Hankey snuffs out Guy Fawkes mayhem

THE Kouga Municipality teamed up with the Hankey SAPS and Community Police Forum last week to snuff out the mayhem and hooliganism which have become associated with Guy Fawkes.

Station commissioner, supt Ezrah Sefaley, said Guy Fawkes celebrations had over recent years been marked by tyre burning, littering, the blocking of streets, damage to property and injury to animals.

“This year our peace-loving inhabitants decided enough is enough and, together with the SAPS, CPF, municipality and other stakeholders embarked on a proactive campaign to snuff out the mayhem.”

Sefaley said the main perpetrators of Guy Fawkes hooliganism tended to be teenagers and young adults.

“To draw them away from these destructive activities we organised alternative entertainment.”

The programme kicked off with a big procession, which included the fire brigade, and ended in a musical extravaganza at what used to be a hooliganism hot spot.

An awareness campaign was also held in the run-up to the big day.

Sefaley said the campaign proved to be a hit, with less than a handful of tyre-burning incidents being reported in both Hankey and nearby Weston.