THE residents of Musgrave and Morningside have reached their breaking point and are crying out for help to silence the loud exhausts, and stop the racing and hooting that is happening “at all hours of the day”.

“It’s the loud exhausts that sound like gunfire that are keeping us up at night,” said a resident, who wanted to remain anonymous. “The speeding is also a major concern because their racing and spinning their vehicles in busy residential area, anything can happen. This must be stopped now before it is too late.”

Another Morningside resident said she has become so accustomed to the revving noise of the vehicles that she can now recognise the vehicle approaching her street by the sound of the exhaust. “It’s always the same vehicles and motorbikes that are revving near our homes,” she said. “It’s as if they are taunting us. It’s happening at all hours of the day, and we want it to stop. Most of us work from home and cannot escape the horrific sound. We have spoken to law enforcement about the issue, and we are told to log a complaint and take down the registration numbers of the offender, but most of these vehicles have no licence plates.”

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In eThekwini, driving a vehicle without number plates can result in a fine of R500 to R1000, and in some cases, impoundment of the vehicle. Additionally, operating a vehicle with special licence plates on a public road without proper authorisation can lead to a fine of R500 and one demerit point. Ward 27 councillor Ernest Smith said he has been made aware of the problem and the long-term suffering of the residents.

He said, “The noise issue is due to vehicles revving unnecessarily. This is further compounded by presumably modified exhaust systems, which some offenders argue come standard with their vehicles, which may very well be the case, although there are SABS standards that are supposed to monitor these things. Another part of the larger problem is the ‘racing’ of  vehicles, which not only makes noise but also creates a safety problem for the area. We have engaged SAPS and metro police recently along with the CPF to try and better address this matter, along with vehicles not being licensed, not having number plates on, as well as requests for general police visibility in the area.”

To put a brake on the speedsters and the loud revving of exhausts, they are asking for more roadblock and cameras to catch the perpetrators in action. eThekwini Metro Police spokesperson, Colonel Boysie Zungu, said, “We have noted the complaint raised by the residents and will be forwarding a report to regional for assessment and to establish a way forward.”

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