By Tammy O'Reilly
THE festive season may be a time of fun for most Joburg residents; it's also a time for the City's emergency workers get down to work.
Johannesburg's emergency and policing services were on high alert over the holidays, ready to assist in any eventuality from road accidents to drownings, from the effects of rainstorms to unruly New Year revellers.
And, if the data collected by the various departments over the period is anything to go by, the season was not without its fair share of drama.
According to the Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) staff attended to 276 emergencies around the city between 16 December 2004 and 2 January 2005.
Some 26 rescues were carried out at the scenes of motor accidents and as many grass and rubbish fires were extinguished.
Special service emergencies, which refer to flooding, the removal of fallen trees and other emergencies where there are no human casualties, totalled 26.
During this time one person drowned.
However, according to the EMS, in the six weeks prior - during November and the first two weeks of December - a total of 23 people drowned in Johannesburg.
However, emergency workers reported that casualties resulting from New Year celebrations were down on figures for 2003 and Hillbrow, a part of the city notorious for unruly behaviour during New Year festivities, was calmer than previous years.
The Berea Fire Station - the central point for treating casualties from the Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville - recorded 35 incidents over New Year, 15 less than last year.
However, according to EMS spokesperson Malcolm Midgley, while the number of injuries may have dropped, the severity of the injuries had not changed. "We are still getting people with serious injuries like head wounds, stab wounds and gunshot wounds," Midgley said.
One reason cited for the decrease in casualties was that many revellers from the inner city chose to attend a New Year's Eve carnival and concert at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.
The large presence of Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officials in Newtown also ensured the party did not get out of hand.
The JMPD, in anticipation of New Year's Eve revelry, started anti-crime campaigns ahead of the holidays and continued their efforts throughout the festive season.
Through the distribution of pamphlets, marches and messages from celebrities and prominent individuals, residents were urged to refrain from criminal activity and to work hand-in-hand with the police.
The JMPD launched three major operations under the umbrella of Operation Token days - a 400-day strategy to curb crime in certain areas.
Between 8 November and 26 December 2004, 90 097 cars were searched during Operation Jozi, which featured a series of roadblocks around the city. During this campaign 245 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Operation Night Life targeted clubs, taverns and hotels and resulted in 674 people being arrested between 8 November and 26 December on charges ranging from rape, robbery and theft to vehicle theft and pointing of firearms. Drivers were not exempt from the crime prevention operations. During Operation Bumble Bee a whopping 262 404 people were snapped by cameras around the city - one photo every 121 seconds - for speeding. Approximately 38 000 drivers went through red robots. Operation Winged Heart targeted taxis. "This operation dealt with taxi drivers who had been issued with discontinue notices for unroadworthy taxis, but continued to drive them anyway. Some 2001 drivers were fined," according to JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar.
He added that 475 taxi drivers who had not kept to designated transport routes had their vehicles impounded.
"Our festive season operations went off successfully and we are pleased with the success of our various operations," Minnaar added.
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