EDITOR – Regarding the issue of noisy visitors trashing the Durban beachfront.
Sadly, those charged with our safety only work in fits and starts – at their own peculiar discretion.
Lee is quite right, Metro Police did actually apologise last year – and surprised many of us by that. However, we must understand that that was last year – the moment was over within days.
Cops do not take lessons and experiences forward from one day to the next. So they are not about to take lessons and experiences forward from one year to the next.
As can be understood by SS Eddie von Bargen's excuse, Metro Police does not have a finger on the pulse. Why would SAPS get involved – it is yet another b-i-i-g disappointment we have to deal with. A case of “you can put another uniform on a member – it will still shirk the same”.
Metro is incapable of pre-empting violations of laws and by-laws and are taken by surprise when the city customers run out of patience and call or write in. If it (and the city) did, indeed, learn from past events and complaints, we would not have to worry about being noise-blasted in Durban daily, weekly, monthly. But we are. Which means they do not.
Strangely on the opposite page to this report was city festive season plans kick off. FESMESS has been a resounding failure every year it has been staged (it is a big show). Once again, DuMPS has an excuse not to give the customers priority – and this time the project is FESMAC.
The various law enforcement entities of the municipality, brought together for FESMAC, will again be thrown into disarray, leaving the city in one right mess during the extended festive season. Hence leaving concerned citizens a FESMESS to fume over.
Let me put forth – this weekend there will once again be a fireworks display around Argyle Road. Metro Police (and the city health department, mind you) are not mindful of their duties. Therefore, we will once again have a disturbance of the peace. And gross infringements of local, provincial, national and international rules on pollution (which, by definition, includes noise pollution).
If SS von Bargen was alerted to this, would he take pre-emptive decisions? idontthinkso.
Mahmood
North Beach
