Steenberg CPF records spike in violence in build-up to Guy Fawkes

The Steenberg community policing forum (CPF) said it had recorded a spike in violent incidents in the build-up to Guy Fawkes.
 
Guy Fawkes is celebrated annually on 5 November in a number of countries across the world with the setting off of fireworks.
 
In recent years, the City of Cape Town has cracked down on the illegal sale, storage, and use of fireworks, with a focus on preventing injuries and reducing trauma for both people and animals.

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Steenberg CPF deputy chairperson, Erica Jacobs, has raised the alarm following a number of incidents involving groups of children, who've apparently been roaming the streets stoning cars, and assaulting people with socks filled with stones.
 
"We are concerned that just in last week, we had two very big incidents in the community and it is weeks away from Guy Fawkes, but typically this time of the year, we do see an increase in stone throwing."
 
Jacobs said that Guy Fawkes had now become an opportunity for youth to misbehave.

"There's always been smearing or a gathering of people and then there's been chaos sometimes around Guy Fawkes. But now kids can't go out of the community, so they are misbehaving in their streets. The group mentality is that we all go into one space, we are throwing stones at another group, at vehicles, police vans, public transport."