Residents tackle noise pollution in city

Residents of the city can now be part of a structured group that aims to ensure that Polokwane Municipality enforces its Noise Pollution By-laws.
This comes after numerous complaints regarding noise generated at open air functions, in particular, were received by City Cluster councillors Frank Haas, Franco Marx, Mariette Pretorius, Roelof Lourens, Jacques Joubert, Khetan Vallabh and Androe Botha. Marx and Haas intend to table a motion in this regard in the municipal council meeting that will take place later this month.
Marx is the administrator of a recently created Facebook page called Polokwane Noise Pollution that can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/20557109333053/ and where concerned residents may post their comments and input and obtain information regarding the progress with this action.
Marx says that the group is a concerned residents group with a mutual issue and not a political group. “Councillors will drive the issue in council as per the mandate of the residents. A copy of the relevant motion that will be submitted to the Polokwane Council will be posted soon. Unfortunately not all complaints will be resolved in Council and should the need arise we will assist residents to appoint attorneys to institute legal action as provided for in the By-laws,” Marx says and explains that the Polokwane Noise Control By-law was published in the Limpopo Provincial Gazette on 16 September 2017 and that the relevant extracts of the By-law are on the Facebook page.
According to Marx, the current action will be focussed on premises owned by the municipality which are the Peter Mokaba Stadiums, the Cricket Club and surroundings, the Public Swimming Pool in Burger Street, Waterland, Flora Park Dam and the Ladanna Defence Base Camp next to Noordelikes.
Marx confirmed that the noise disturbance created by discharging of fireworks are also covered by the By-law and added that more than 200 residents accessed the site in the first 24 hours.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com