Frustrations at Bluff noisemakers grow

FRUSTRATION is mounting among residents and business owners on The Bluff as they grapple with a persistent problem of unruly noisemakers who flood the area with loud music from their cars during the night.

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The disturbances have sparked a renewed call for enforcement of municipal by-laws designed to curb excessive noise in residential areas. The municipal by-laws state that excessive noise, including shouting, screaming and loud music, is strictly regulated in residential zones.

The by-laws also stipulate specific hours during which noise is permissible and ban activities like public excavations which contribute to disturbances. Violations of these regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines of up to R40 000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

Despite these legal provisions, residents and business owners have reported ongoing issues with a group of noisemakers who regularly gather outside their properties late at night, blasting music and leaving behind empty alcohol bottles.

The situation has prompted calls for more effective enforcement of the existing noise regulations. Residents urge authorities to take stronger measures to address the issue, emphasising that the current enforcement is inadequate.

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In response to the growing discontent, authorities have indicated that they are reviewing their enforcement strategies to better address the concerns of The Bluff community.

A member of The Bluff CPF, Aveshin Moodley, said they have responded to complaints about noisemakers on Donald and Ivernia roads on The Bluff.

“We tell people to turn the music down, however, it becomes a struggle to confront a group of more than 20 intoxicated individuals. We always encourage residents to respect the privacy of others and not to urinate on other people’s properties,” said Moodley.

The spokesperson for Brighton Beach Police Station, Captain Louise le Roux, said, “These streets remain two of the multiple hotspots in our policing precinct. The police cannot be expected to deploy members to monitor the social conduct of some community members continuously. I recommend that street committees be established and that homeowners engage those residents causing disruption in dialogue to find a midway point to co-exist in a respectful manner. Another option is for residents to join the CPF and become Community in Blue patrollers. By patrolling, they will be able to alert the metro and the police in advance before an unmanageable situation is created.”

The spokesperson for the Durban Metro Police, Victor Zungu, urged the public to report all illegal activities to the police. “It’s the first time I’ve heard of such a complaint, however, drinking in public, noise disturbances, urinating on the pavement and having sex on the road are not allowed under our city by-laws,” said Zungu.

Residents are advised to report incidents to the metro police’s control centre at 031 361 0000.

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