Mbombela residents have had it with noise pollution
The City of Mbombela's spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, said by-laws against noise pollution are in place. The public may call and lay a complaint and by-law officers will handle the matter accordingly.
Residents in certain areas of the City of Mbombela (CoM) have appealed to the municipality to implement by-laws that prohibit people from making excessive noise.
They have been complaining for months that they are woken up or prevented from sleeping due to extreme noise levels at night and until morning. One of the residents, who wanted to remain anonymous, said loud music usually starts early on Thursday night and goes on until 03:00.
“This is affecting my mental health as I cannot sleep or have a peaceful night. I have no idea where the music comes from, but it sounds distant. Is there a law that I could use, because I believe the people living in close quarters to the area of the deep booming bass music should have complained already?”
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According to CoM’s noise abatement by-laws of 1992, no person shall in any street or public place in or on any premises between 22:00 and 06:00 shout, sing or otherwise make any loud noise, nor shall they operate, play or sanction the operation or performing of any radio, television set, phonograph drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier or similar device that produces or reproduces amplified sound.
The by-laws also state that any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provision of the law shall be guilty of an offence and shall upon conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding R300 or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 12 months, or receive both a fine and imprisonment. In case of a continued offence, the offender shall be fined an amount not exceeding R200 each day that the offence continues.
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According to CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, there are by-laws in place. The public may call and lay a complaint and the by-law officers will handle the matter accordingly.
“I would like to encourage community members to report such things with the exact location so that we can deal with the noisemakers, however, we will not act on hearsay. People must provide facts,” he said.
The call centre numbers are 013 759 9301/2/3/5/6/7/8.
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