Resident appeals to president to intervene after noisy weekend events

TIRED and fed up with having to suffer through yet another noisy Durban weekend, Morningside resident, Helen Clementz has as a last resort, penned a letter to the president of South Africa, begging for relief.

Clementz said she and other exhausted citizens of Durban were subjected to noisy events in Durban again on the weekend of 10 November, which continued unabated until after 3am.

“This is now a weekly or several times a week occurrence. It affects residents in Durban, Glenwood, Musgrave, Morningside, Umgeni Park and Durban North.

Ratepaying residents are up in arms and have posted on Facebook ad infinitum. They have written to the newspapers and signed petitions. Hotels and B&Bs have admitted they are losing business. Guests say that they have never encountered this type of behavior anywhere else in the world. Indeed it would not be tolerated anywhere else, why here?” she said.

ALSO READ: Residents shell shocked after weekend event

In correspondence with Ward 27 councillor, Martin Meyer, Clementz said she was aware that he had tried numerous times to get through to Metro management, to no avail. “They apparently reside in Umhlanga and Westville and do not seem to care that people actually work, children have exams to write and what about the elderly and infirm? Surely there are some rules which apply to acceptable behaviour in metros. Surely the city manager should be held accountable?” she asked.

Meyer said he was aware that Clementz had written to the president and said he welcomed any attempts from residents to get the relevant authorities to act. “I however do not see the president acting on this as he will just refer it back to local government. But the facts are that all attempts to find long term solutions on this has failed. Numerous communications with the two previous and the current city manager, including a petition to the previous city manager have had no effect,” he said.

Meyer said that it was important to note that no one was against events, but that events going on until the early hours of the morning and on weekdays, had a huge negative effect on residents.

“The city, when giving permission or often even themselves hosting these events, are violating their own bylaws,” he said.

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