Rowdy parties disrupts neighbourhood

Noisy parties have long bedevilled Coronation Park, much to the irritation of residents.
Nearby owners of B&Bs, the hospital and a retirement village complex on McKenzie Street have had to cope with thumping music, drinking in public, widespread litter and – over the festive season – men and women openly urinating in public.
This is all in contravention of a municipal signboard at the park, which dictates that none of these anti-social activities should take place in what is also supposed to be a children’s playground.
Residents – many of whom declined to be named for fear of reprisals – claim they get no joy from the municipality or the SAPS when reporting such parties – up to 40 people at a gathering.
“Police do not respond unless it is after 11pm. So we have to put up with all that noise until 10:50pm. We pay rates here, and people from outside the area come and party, making a mess and a noise,” said one resident.
On Saturday, the party-people appeared to have moved their ‘jol spot’ to further down Coronation Street, opposite a block of flats.
One resident said he went to the party to complain that the loud music was disturbing the peace, but got sworn at for his efforts.
He was afraid to call the police as he claimed that ‘the last time’ he called the police, after his fourth call the operator told him that ‘you will be taken out if you continue to harass the police’.
For now it appears as if residents will have to cope with the noise and face the music themselves.