Firefighters battled valiantly for days to get the fires under control, dealing with multiple flare ups, with the arrival of a cold front providing some much needed relief.
The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service has scaled back its firefighting efforts in Somerset West and Tableview.
A fire broke out just after 11:00 at Rietvlei on Wednesday, 8 June 2022. Five hours later, another fire broke out at Lourensford in Somerset West.
On average, the City’s Fire and Rescue Service had 24 firefighting appliances and 90 staff members in Somerset West per day, assisted by various other agencies.
Fire and Rescue Service resources at Rietvlei were on average 10 appliances and 40 to 50 staff members.
The Lourensford incident command centre is being closed this morning, while a final assessment will be conducted at Rietvlei today.
Damage assessments are ongoing, as part of the final reports into the incidents.
‘We commend the efforts of our firefighters who have battled for days, under very trying circumstances, to bring the fires in Somerset West and Tableview under control. The wet weather that has set in has been a massive boost, and brought welcome relief. However, now our Disaster Risk Management Teams and other related City services are on standby to manage any adverse impacts from the series of cold fronts. Thus far no major incidents have been reported, but we remind the public to always have the City’s public emergency communication number on speed-dial. That number is 021 480 7700 from a cellphone and 107 from a landline,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) logged 1 681 incidents over the weekend, including 709 for medical assistance, of which 95 were physical assault cases. There were also 49 motor vehicle accidents logged and 14 pedestrian vehicle accidents.
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
The City’s enforcement agencies made 349 arrests in the past week, and issued 83 075 fines for various transgressions.
Law Enforcement officers made 133 arrests and issued 4 606 notices.
On Friday, 10 June 2022, LEAP officers were conducting a joint vehicle checkpoint operation with Nyanga SAPS along Govan Mbeki Road, when they noticed a Toyota Avanza turning away from the checkpoint. Officers pulled over the vehicle, and the three backseat passengers alighted from the vehicle. While officers conducted a search, they found an imitation firearm behind the driver’s seat.
At this point, the driver sped off, leaving the three passengers behind. Officers managed to obtain his driver’s licence, and while searching the passengers, they recovered two sets of car keys and five cellphones. Officers were soon able to link one set of keys and a cellphone to a hijacking that was reported earlier in the day in Milnerton.
The suspects were detained at Nyanga SAPS on charges of possession of an imitation firearm and suspected stolen property.
Cape Town Traffic Services recorded 41 351 speeding offences and issued 32 625 fines for various other traffic violations.
Officers impounded 169 public transport vehicles and executed 1 563 warrants of arrest.
A total of 54 arrests were made – 40 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 14 for reckless and negligent driving.
Metro Police officers made 162 arrests and issued 4 493 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions.
Source: City Of Cape Town