Cops clamp down on noisy establishments

Pubs caught making a noise in the early parts of the morning in ward 66 were raided by authorities recently.

Clr Carlos da Rocha said he organised an operation following a number of complaints received from residents.

“Noise has become a big problem in my ward. Residents are constantly complaining about pubs making a noise until the early hours of the morning,” he said.

A resident, who did not want his name published, recently told the EXPRESS that noise emanating from an establishment in Rocky Street, Yeoville, is unbearable.

The establishment had extended its bar in the form of a gazebo.

“This is a residential area and people need peace and quiet,” he said.

The raid, which was attended by Clr Da Rocha, was conducted by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and environmental health officials from the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) on February 21.

“The JMPD presence was important because environmental health officials needed protection. JMPD also had to deal with other law enforcement issues,” said Clr Da Rocha.

The first stop was in Bez Valley close to the Darras Centre. Residents have on several occasions complained about some of the pubs in the area. However, the area was quiet on this occasion.

Clr Da Rocha and the officials then went to Bellevue and heard noise emanating from a restaurant.

“We found a sound system set up by staff, blaring away. Environmental health officials issued two fines and the JMPD issued a written warning. We then proceeded to Rocky Street. We went to a first-floor bar and found the same problem. The music could be heard two blocks away,” said Clr Da Rocha.

The officials proceeded to the establishment the resident speaks about in this article. “When told to turn the music down, the owner of the establishment felt it was his right to blast away because it is a business. When he received a fine, he was upset. In the past, I requested from him directly that he have some consideration for the residents in the area. He thought he was above the law,” said Clr Da Rocha.

A restaurant in Bez Valley was also raided. “The owner of this place applied for a restaurant liquor license and at no time have I seen anyone eating there. The owner applied for the liquor license under restaurant use and it is a pub. There were objections from the community to this establishment opening. There are schools and churches in close proximity, yet the owner was issued with a liquor licence,” said Clr Da Rocha.

He said the operation was successful. He thanked the officials who conducted the operation after having worked during the day.

He said noise complaints have to be taken seriously and dealt with timeously to prevent residents from taking the law into their own hands.

Clr Da Rocha said he hopes more action will be taken in his ward against people who contravene the bylaws.

Jeppestown

The JMPD also targeted other people found contravening the bylaws in areas such as Jeppestown last week.

Ms Maggie Brown said officers finally attended to her complaint about a man who insisted on playing his music at full volume.

“I think the metro police finally became tired of being called out by me. They issued him with a written warning. If he does it again, they will confiscate his bakkie as the sound system is attached to the back of it. It does pay to be persistent,” she said.