Noisy neighbours take note

POLOKWANE – Polokwane noise control by-laws illustrate rules and actions to be taken against residents who violate those laws.
These include:
1. No person may make, produce or cause a disturbing noise, or allow it to be made, produced or caused by any person, animal, machine, device or apparatus or any combination thereof.
2. No person may- (a) operate or play, or allow to be operated or played, a radio, television set, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, loudspeaker system or similar device producing, reproducing or amplifying sound so as to cause a noise nuisance.
3. No person may stage a function in a residential area or similar gathering without the prior written consent of the municipality and the municipality may impose such conditions as it may deem fit.
If the laws are broken, the municipality may for the purpose of applying these regulations, at any reasonable time enter a premises to conduct any examination, inquiry or inspection thereon as it may deem expedient and to take any steps it may deem necessary.

4. The Municipality can issue a written warning and compliance letter to the owner of the house establishment to stop and comply with the by-laws.
Failing to comply with these by-laws and written warnings can result in action taken against the owner of a property.
5. The by-laws state that no person may fail to comply with a written condition, instruction, notice, requirement or demand issued by a municipality in terms of these regulations.
Residents taking a noise reading also have to apply to different set conditions when making a complaint and recording the noise levels for pollution.

The by-laws state that:
Any person taking a reading must ensure that the acoustic sensitivity of sound level meters is checked before and after every series of measurements by using a sound calibrator, verified every two years by an accredited calibration laboratory for compliance with the specifications for accuracy of national codes of practice for acoustics, to comply with the Measuring Units and National Measuring Standards Act 2006 (Act No. 18 of 2006);
Measurements can be done in two ways:
1. Outdoor measurements on a piece of land: By placing the microphone of an integrating impulse sound level meter at least 1,2 metres, but not more than 18 1,4 metres, above the ground and at least 3,5 metres away from walls, buildings or other sound reflecting surfaces.
2. Indoor measurements in a room or enclosed space which is not ventilated mechanically: By placing the microphone of an integrating impulse sound level meter at least 1,2 metres but not more than 1,4 metres, above the floor and at least 1,2 metres away from the wall, with all the windows and outer doors of the room or enclosed space entirely open.
Any person may by means of a written application apply to the municipality concerned for exemption from any provision of these regulations. But this will only be granted by the municipality.
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this by-law will be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment or to both such fine and such imprisonment, and, in the event of a continuing contravention, to a fine for every day such offence continues, or both such fine and such imprisonment for each day on which such contravention continues, or in default of payment thereof, to imprisonment.
Polokwane Police Spokesperson WO Lesiba Ramishaba explained that the police may intervene only when residents commit the illegal act of disturbing the peace. He said this usually takes place at night when the police are called out to enforce municipal by-laws. “We work with the municipality and different other sectors like Community Policing Forums on upholding the by-laws. Warnings can be given to residents and where there have been warnings, people have complied,” he said.
Municipal Stakeholder Relations Officer, Disree Manyane, said that issues in this regard can be reported to the municipality’s community safety and health section at 015 290 2350 to speak to Johan Swanwpoel, who deals with issues of noise pollution.

riana@nmgroup.co.za