Highly Irritated from Noordheuwel, you have our full sympathy regarding your recent traumatic experience of having to endure noise from 2pm until midnight. We can also identify and empathise with those who had to go to work as well as with the matrics who had to write exams the following day.
The noise apparently originated from a lodge on the N14, during a Mambo Spring Festival held in September. Mercifully, although we also live in Noordheuwel, we were for once spared the lack of consideration and the insensitivity of the community at large, as we did not hear a thing.
The lodge at least had the courtesy to unreservedly apologise to the community of Krugersdorp for the inconvenience caused by this noise pollution. How gallant of them to commit to putting the interest of the community and that of their establishment first, going forward!
We on the other hand, have been subjected to a barrage of inconsiderate behaviour and insensitivity over the past 14 years, and the sad reality is that notwithstanding the fact that we have addressed this over and over, our appeals to be considered simply fall on deaf ears.
A popular Afrikaans music festival, held on 15 September, was the most recent event during which time the community was once again, regrettably, shown a total lack of consideration or respect.
Prior to the event, we were assured by the organisers that the music artists were going to make use of professional sound engineers, to monitor the sound and to ensure that the permissible, legal noise levels would not be exceeded.
This was however, definitely not the case. The music and bass was so loud that the windows in our house rattled for 12 hours non-stop, the only reprieve being the few minutes between change of artists. Even our dogs were traumatised and had to be kept inside for the entire day and evening.
In the aftermath, we were once again left feeling disillusioned, anxious and frazzled and our entire Sunday was spent trying to recover, before also having to go to work the next day.
This event was, like all the others, most definitely in blatant disregard to all municipal by-laws and a clear indication of the total lack of consideration for the residents, who are for some reason, expected to continuously tolerate this unadulterated cacophony. This is very disconcerting, as clearly this type of action is also teaching learners that it is not necessary to have any consideration or respect for others.
And the sad reality is, that although this was addressed with the relevant parties on 16 September, neither the courtesy of an acknowledgement, nor a response has been forthcoming.
Surely, as homeowners and rate-payers, we are entitled to some degree of peace and quiet in our suburb and moreover, in our homes?
* The letter was sent to Hoërskool Noordheuwel, who hosted the event, for comment.
