Noisy buses disturb Glenwood residents’ sleep
At night, buses line both sides of the road outside the main entrance to UKZN when dropping off and picking up students.
A CONSTANT stream of buses dropping students off at the UKZN campus during the course of the night and early hours of the morning, has become a bone of contention for residents who live in proximity to the main university entrance.
According to one resident, who asked not to be named, she has only lived in her home for a year, but her surrounding neighbours have told her that the issue has been a problem for about two years, with up to 20 buses using the entrance at the same time.
“The buses also park and obstruct driveways while they wait to offload students. The buses that park at the bottom of the road close to the student residences, do so on a blind rise, which also poses a danger to the students.”
“I do a lot of work for the university and understand the students and their backgrounds. They depend on public transport, but I believe it is the university’s responsibility to provide safe transport for them, within the university grounds,” she said.
The woman said residents have had their sleep disrupted since students started writing supplementary exams at the end of last year and the university saw fit to establish a 24-hour library service at the beginning of this year.
“I have tolerated the bus problem but this was the final straw. The buses hoot all day as it is, but now there are up to 30 buses at a time from 7pm to 11pm going through the same gate and lining the narrow King George V Road on both sides.”
“This goes on until the early hours of the morning as well, with buses revving and hooting and playing loud music. The noise even triggers alarms in the area! I can’t sleep in my main bedroom anymore and have had to move into a room at the back of the house as the noise is unbearable. My children also can’t sleep. My child is falling asleep in class as he’s not getting enough sleep. I have reached the end of my tether,” she said.
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Despite emailing the vice-chancellor almost daily since February, and including video footage of the chaos the buses are causing .
“I complained that this is infringing on my constitutional rights and now people are finally starting to listen. I have sent emails daily and done a lot of research.”
“There are 16 gates at the university and I believe and alternative gate, which does not run through a residential area, should be used.”
“I have been told that the other gates are locked to cut back on security costs, but this is not good enough. The traffic through this main gate has increased in volume by three to four times. My husband and I are both doctors and if we need to leave our property for an emergency at night, we wouldn’t be able to get out as the buses block the road on both sides, bumper to bumper,” she said.
When appealing to Metro Police, she said she was told the problem lay with the university and did not fall under their jurisdiction.
“Metro Police are already inundated with work and I feel the university has a social, moral and legal responsibility to deal with this in a proper manner with proper consultation and with regard for the safety of students,” she said.
DA PR councillor for wards 101 and 32, Sharmaine Sewshanker, said this was an ongoing problem and she had emailed Metro Police regarding the issue.
“The new Nuisance By-Law is good on paper, but I feel Metro Police should be doing more to enforce it, especially in this incidence. Metro have been tasked to monitor the situation at night but this hasn’t happened. This is a huge disturbance and there are ‘no stopping’ zones outside the university, so buses shouldn’t be allowed to stop in the road. This is causing huge distress to residents and the university and law enforcement need to come to the party,” she said.
Responding to queries from Berea Mail, management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal said it is aware of the concerns of the community residing along King George Avenue regarding the noise emanating from the buses.
“Several alternative routes have been identified and will be in operation after the Easter recess,” they said.
Video footage taken by the resident at around midnight shows the number of buses entering and leaving the university. Residents say the noise is keeping them up at night.
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