Residents in Primrose have recently been plagued by extremely loud music coming from the Makause informal settlement.
“A number of residents in our area have been reaching out to our authorities to no avail,” said Johan La Grange, a resident of Primrose.
“The music is playing extremely loud right through the weekend – how can one expect to rest with such havoc surrounding our peaceful neighbourhoods?”
La Grange said they had contacted the EMPD and SAPS to report the matter and have something done about it.
“The SAPS at least picked up the phone, but as far as their knowledge goes playing music is not a crime.
“I have heard that the SAPS members are also too scared to enter the informal settlements,” La Grange said.
“There are very clearly stipulated by-laws that protect home owners against this type of behaviour.”
La Grange believes proper law enforcement needs to be implemented in the settlements to prevent the contravention of the by-laws.
“It seems our hands are tied behind our backs as law-abiding citizens and tax-paying home owners,” La Grange said.
The GCN contacted the EMPD and the Primrose SAPS for comment on the matter.
Sgt Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose SAPS, said, “The Primrose police are hands-on in monitoring the informal settlements.
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“We recently closed seven illegal taverns during two operations.
“During the operations, we visit places where noise is emanating from and ask them to switch off the music.”
Kobeli Mokheseng, the acting spokesperson for the EMPD, told the GCN that EMPD officers monitored the informal settlement over a recent weekend to ensure they did a proper investigation.
“Two allegedly troublesome (causing loud music) taverns were identified.
“Between the Friday and Sunday, we were on site monitoring the settlement, even though heavy rains tried to disturb us,” Mokheseng said.
“We managed to interview one pub owner (situated just opposite from the Primrose Swimming Pool, on Pretoria Road).
“He was given a verbal warning followed by a workshop in connection with loud music.
“The mentioned bars will be monitored at regular intervals.”
Mokheseng advised residents to call the metro’s call taking centre on 086 054 3000 or alternatively 011 458 0911 to report noise problems as soon as the noise starts.
With regard to the playing of loud music, Mokheseng said, “As neighbours we need to respect each other’s privacy. If we know we are planning to have an event in a residential area where loud music will be the order of the day, we must communicate our plans timeously to members in the surrounding neighbourhoods and evaluate and value their opinions.
“After taking score, if negative responses outweigh the positive responses, we resort to the appropriate volume (of sound) or we change the venue.
“The minute an applicant ignores people’s outcry and starts to disturb the peace, is when the EMPD applies the municipal by-laws.”
Mokheseng added that along with bringing a noise disturbance to the attention of the EMPD, residents could also involve their ward councillors or community leaders to assist them.
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