Wonder Hlongwa
It’s that time of the year again, and in many townships in and around Gauteng people are preparing for boomfires. A boomfire is a huge flame made from a tall dry tree ringed with old tyres and set alight on New Year’s Eve.
While the tree and tyres burn for the whole night, residents dance around it, enjoying the dawning of the New Year.
But environmental groups object to boomfires as a health hazard. They are determined to stop residents from making boomfires this year.
Leading the campaign against boomfires is the Ikageng Youth Foundation , a youth environmental group based in the East Rand in Gauteng. The group is affiliated to the Environmental Justice Networking Forum.
The boomfire practice started in 1970s, when some townships did not have electricity. As a result, residents devised a way to light some sections of the township for the whole night.
The foundation has been campaigning against boomfires since 1995. It claims there has been a dramatic decrease in boomfires.
“The burning of tyres and fuels results in the release of toxic gas into the air,” said the foundation in a statement recently. “These gases enter the body and can cause serious damage such as respiratory infections, reproduction problems, cancer, etcetera.”
The group said the practice increases crimes like rape, intimidation, violence and theft. Most of the girls interviewed by the group complained that they were raped, and tyres were forcefully taken from the owners.
“To keep people away from making boomfires the foundation feels that entertainment like beauty contests, street bashes, community talent exposure concerts and so on could keep the people occupied,” said the foundation.
The group also established that the proponents of boomfires go around their neighbourhoods demanding money to buy petrol for the occasion. Tyres are stolen from pre-schools and children’s playgrounds for the occasion and trucks are hijacked to transport the tyres.
Boomfires can also lead to uncontrolled fires in communities not serviced by fire brigades.