Noise pollution instigates interdict

The hottest music festivals, social bashes and political rallies in town might be rocking the joint for scores of revellers regularly flocking to the Peter Mokaba Stadium precinct, but growing discontent over reported uncontained noise levels and a disregard for by-laws is sparking a campaign aimed at legal action against Polokwane Municipality.
Having reached the end of her tether with a situation that has prevailed for many years, Penina Park resident Annatjie Harmse has taken it upon herself to raise funds towards legal costs to obtain an interdict against the municipality in future, all done in an attempt to ensure the implementation of by-laws regulating noise disturbance in the area. After having obtained legal advice on the matter, Harmse said she was informed that in the case of such an interdict being granted, the municipal manager of Polokwane Municipality could face immediate arrest if regulations were not implemented during mass gatherings that disturbed the peace after the set cut-off time. The biggest bones of contention are events at Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane Cricket Grounds and Waterland, which is known as a hotspot in the area, it was learnt.
Ironically Waterland will also serve as venue for tonight’s (Thursday) scheduled meeting of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in the area, where Harmse intends raising issues of concern affecting the surrounding community. For years now she has been vocal in highlighting matters demanding intervention in Penina Park. It includes the ongoing security threat posed by alleged public drinking of knife-wielding youngsters at the same hang-out on weekends, vulnerability of residents to prevalent criminal elements in the area, lack of service delivery and loopholes in the municipal billing system.
The threat posed by noise pollution in their neighbourhood this past weekend counted among the worst ever, Harmse reckoned. Relaying the fact that residents left home on weekends when knowing in advance of upcoming events at the three venues, she referred to blaring music that was allowed to continue at unacceptably high decibels blasting at ongoing intervals starting last Thursday evening until Sunday morning. It seemingly reached its peak on Saturday night, characterising the annual celebration of Heritage Day. To her it sounded as if the musicians were performing in her lounge, she quipped.
Harmse pointed out that calls to the Police to ask for assistance had fallen on deaf ears. Nothing came of a standing invitation from Polokwane Executive Mayor Thembi Nkadimeng to be alerted of problems around the clock either, as the mayor’s phone was switched off on Sunday between 05:30 and 06:00, without the option of leaving a voice message. When she got hold of the ward councillor at 05:55 on Sunday he indicated that he wasn’t aware of any problem, Harmse said.
With the situation getting out of hand, Harmse regarded it time to take steps to take the municipality to task to implement the necessary by-laws to protect the residents adjacent to the precinct. She was also considering petitioning the municipality on the noise issue and requested residents in the area who wanted to add their signatures to it or contribute towards the legal costs to be incurred by obtaining the interdict to contact her on 083 798 2120.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com