uMhlanga’s noisy club feud continues

DURBAN North residents are at their wits’ end with the excessive noise created by a nightclub on Umhlanga Rocks Drive. The club, known as 33 On the Rocks, has been a source of previous complaints.

One of the residents on Blackburn Road, who did not want to be named, said the club not only belted out loud music throughout the weekends, but its revellers also caused disturbances by racing up and down the road. Drunken patrons have also fallen into neighbouring properties, she said.

“It is ridiculous. At 3am we can still hear the deejay shouting as clear as day, and with the thumping music we hardly get any sleep. It is so loud that you not only hear the music but you feel it. All of us also have small children. What are we to do? On Monday when we go to work we are exhausted,” added the resident.

According to the resident’s husband, the sound-proofing for the club had to be removed recently as it interfered with the ventilation.

“It gets so bad that we actually have to go out to get away from the noise. It becomes unbearable. We just can’t relax. We’ve phoned and reported it to Metro Police on several occasions but nobody ever comes,” she said.

What’s more, she said the health department had sent an employee to test the noise levels, but when they arrived the club was not as active. “We have explained the situation and requested a new test to be done, but there has been no response,” she added.

The residents say they are so fed up that they have considered selling their property.

Councillors comments

Shaun Ryley, the Durban North councillor, said he had is in the process of pushing for a licencing hearing where the resident’s concerns could be highlighted.

“At the moment responsibility is being shuffled between the heath department and Metro Police. As it stands I believe the club is in violation of the nuisance bylaws act and therefore Metro should be involved,” he said.

uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, confirmed numerous complains from the club and its noise. “In the past I have asked business licencing to inspect, but since I have not received feedback it would appear that they do indeed have a licence to operate,” he said.

“However, there is a problem with the establishment as it does generate a lot of background noise and intoxicated patrons leaving the club have caused disturbance in the parking lot or roadway,” he added.

De Boer suggested that residents report any such disturbances to Metro Police and to take down the reference numbers. If the complaints continue without any relief the residents should then submit their complaints and reference numbers to De Boer.

“With ongoing complaints we can call for a licencing hearing and in severe cases with multiple transgressions the health department can revoke the licence,” he said.

Club manager strikes back

The manager of the club, Ashley Maistry, however, confirmed that the club was fully licenced and had installed sound proofing to reduce the noise levels.”We moved our ventilation system to install the sound proofing in order to accommodate the residents in the back. In order to receive our licence a sound engineering expert had to come and inspect and evaluate the noise levels. If our noise levels were above the legal limit we would not have been issued a license,” he said.

“The police have come to the club on several occasions. Not once have we received a fine. We are not the only club in the area and they are all playing music. Why are we being victimized?” he asked.

According to the Maistry he runs the oldest club on Umhlanga Rocks Drive and never received complaints in the past.

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