CoE and CoJ urges residents to adhere to noise level restrictions

The Alberton Record received a letter from a concerned resident about the level of noise in the Rietvlei Zoo Farm and occasionally at the Jackson Dam, which reads as follows:

Rietvlei Zoo Farm and residents of Brackenhurst need to be reminded of the following:

Noise disturbance

The regulations define noise disturbance as follows: “any sound which disturbs or impairs or may disturb or impair the convenience or peace of any person” and “disturbing noise” as “a noise level that exceeds the ambient sound level measured continuously at the same measuring point by seven decibels or more”.

The other is a “noise nuisance”, which is subjectively measured and described as any noise that disturbs or impairs the convenience or peace of any person. This kind of disturbance is usually something that is frequent and happens over a long period.

Is playing loud music illegal in South Africa?

Section 9 – prohibition of noise nuisance

No person shall operate or play, or allow to be operated or played, a radio, television set, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, loudspeaker system or a similar device producing or reproducing or amplifying sound to cause a noise nuisance.

I cannot believe that I am the only person being disturbed by the loud music emanating from Rietvlei Zoo Farm and occasionally from Jackson Dam. I wonder why other residents in the vicinity are silent on this nuisance.

It is also disappointing that the Mondeor police made no effort to take some measures to quiet the excessive and unnecessary noise nuisance caused by loud music. I would request that the Alberton Record name and shame Rietvlei Zoo Farm for arrogantly ignoring my requests to quiet the noise down on two weekends, please.

Your help in removing this constant weekend nuisance would be much appreciated.

Disturbed

The Alberton Record forwarded the matter both to the City of Johannesburg and City of Ekurhuleni for comment.

According to the City of Johannesburg environmental practitioner Trevor Ndziba, the Rietvlei’s farmhouse kitchen manager promised that starting the past weekend, October 7, the noise will be controlled and he was going to remove one of their powerful speakers that he suspected could be creating the noise nuisance.

“An inspection has been done at the Farmhouse restaurant before, however, no measurements were taken. The owner has been told that with the current structure of the restaurant, the noise created will not be contained, therefore, serious measures will be taken that involve the changing of the structure,” said Ndziba.

Allegedly Rietvlei’s manager has approached an acoustic consultant company that will help him put permanent measures in place to contain the noise coming out of his establishment.

The permissible noise level in a built-up suburb at night is 45dB with an acceptable increase of 7dB, meaning that the level measurement done at any point around the boundary wall of Rietvlei Zoo Farm may not be more than 52dB.

During daytime, the level is 55dB, which may not exceed 62dB.

City of Ekurhuleni’s spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said that as the city they are unfortunately not aware of any noise taking place at the Jackson Dam.

“Residents should visit the Department of Sports, Arts and Recreation to apply if they would like to host any event by filling in the event registration form,” said Zweli.

For those who wish to report such disturbances, phone 086 054 3000 (Ekurhuleni) or 011 375 5911 (Johannesburg).