Church worshipers get the blame for allegedly polluting river
Residents in Paulshof say they are tired of church worshippers who are not compliant with city by-laws.
Residents in Paulshof are facing a never-ending battle against noise pollution, public indecency, and environmental degradation every weekend. The culprit? Illicit worship activities along the nearby river, have been escalating over the past two years.
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“We can’t take it anymore,” said Albert Gumbo, chairperson of the Paulshof Residents Association. “The constant drumming, whistling, singing, and screaming have made our weekends unbearable. It’s not just the noise; the nudity, the animal sacrifices, and the littering are unacceptable.”
Gumbo said residents are nostalgic for the peaceful weekends they once enjoyed. He said these disruptions have also impacted the area’s reputation. “Every single weekend, without fail, we’re subjected to this chaos. Residents are forced to abandon their homes, unable to relax in their gardens due to the excessive noise.”
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The environmental impact is also a major concern. Gumbo said the river is littered with empty cardboard containers, food packaging, and occasionally, dead chickens float in the water. “It’s a ticking time bomb for water pollution. We have repeatedly complained to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and river rangers, but responses have been inconsistent. “We appreciate that JMPD is stretched, but we need more effective solutions.”
The situation has become so dire that residents are seeking legal empowerment for security service providers to escort worshippers out of the area. “It’s a war of attrition, where worshippers are abusing freedom of worship and breaking by-laws with impunity. We’re not against freedom of worship, but we demand respect for our residential rights and the environment.”
Gumbo said residents sometimes walk down to the river and ask the worshippers to tone it down or leave. “Security service providers are hampered by the law and residents would like to see them legally empowered to escort worshippers out of the area.”
He suggests that government should designate areas of worship away from residential areas, with the appropriate sanitation facilities in place, or implement by-laws.
JMPD’s Xolani Fihla said he would contact the relevant depot and revert once more information is attained. Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy said, “They have called Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo as well as JMPD regularly.
It does become a problem to communicate with the relevant religious organisations as there are many to worship at the river.” JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said, “We have responded to several complaints. Various stakeholders, including the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL), the Human Rights Commission, and the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services, JMPD and CRUM, recently held a meeting to address the issue, with additional meetings planned.”
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