Shebeens keep residents up all night

Farmall resident, Gavin Tonks said the noise from shebeens in Msawawa informal settlement and Kya Sand was audible from 3km away.

“The bass sounds like a jet landing and the trance rubbish they play sounds like it is coming from my neighbour, it is so loud,” he said. “Why must we put up with this nonsense every weekend?”

Tonks questioned the city council’s ability to intervene, since the matter had been ongoing for five years, with residents submitting petitions and logging numerous complaints with the ward councillor for Ward 96, Matome Mafokwane.

Mafokwane said he was aware of the problem of noise coming from the shebeens. He mentioned that in 2012 he initiated a site visit to the various shebeens with Metro police, the Department of Community Safety and the City of Joburg, as well as the Liquor Board.

“During the visit, shebeen kings and queens were shown how to trade within the bounds of the law and the Metro police were sent regularly to coach them further by confiscating liquor and switching off music,” Mafokwane said. “At the time the shebeen owners said they understood and promised to abide by the municipality bylaws, however I am aware that this problem has started up again.”

Mafokwane said he was in the process of organising another awareness campaign in the area with all the necessary regulatory bodies. He said the campaign would take place by the end of September.

“Landowners are the life blood of municipalities and we cannot have their peace being deliberately disturbed,” Mafokwane said.

He explained that apart from conducting an awareness visit with the shebeen owners, he would also have a forum discussion with landowners and residents of Farmall.

“Action will be taken on this issue,” Mafokwane said. “Residents should not stop complaining about issues they are unhappy with because as a ward councillor I need to know what’s going on in the community.”