City manager fails to respond to noise complaints
Permits for outdoor events cannot allow event holders to keep thousands of city residents awake, says councillor.
WARD councillor, Nicole Graham, said the Democratic Alliance in eThekwini was deeply concerned about the silence of City Manager, Sbu Sithole, regarding noisy outdoor events held at Curries Fountain.
On 22 and 23 June, and 21 July, residents of the city, Albert Park, Greyville, Morningside, the Berea, Glenwood and Umbilo were subjected to incredibly loud music and prayer which reverberated from the venue. Thousands were kept awake, and councillors were inundated with complaints from frustrated communities.
“Metro Police management claimed that a management board at Curries Fountain, which is situated on land owned by the municipality, is authorizing these events and that permits were obtained. Permits cannot allow event holders to keep thousands of city residents awake with no respite from the deafening noise, which could be heard up to 10 kilometers away,” said Graham.
On 26 May, and again on the 23 June, Graham contacted Metro Police, and then the City Manager, requesting a meeting to discuss these events and map a way forward. To date, no meeting date has been set and the City Manager has not responded to any communication.
“The DA finds it unacceptable that residents and councillors are continually ignored by the City Manager. Lawlessness seems to be the order of the day and city leaders are unresponsive. The Curries Fountain chaos is indicative of the way the city has come to treat its ratepayers, particularly within the city and greater Berea,” she said.
The municipality had not responded to requests for comment from Berea Mail at the time of going to press.
