Residents furious over uninvited, drunken guests
"They were urinating right in front of us, some even went into people's yards and used the lawns to relieve themselves. They walked away as if it was a normal thing to do. Not to mention the others that were vomiting on our properties."
Residents of Nelsville were left completely frustrated after teenagers of KaNyamazane took to the Nelsville sport facilities on Saturday.
According to Nelsville resident Ms Mary Schatz, the masses of “youngsters” as she called them, started arriving by taxi around 08:00 that morning. “What transpired was a disgrace and blatant disrespect for our residents. They were drinking in the swimming pool, playing loud music and causing havoc,” she explained.
Schatz said as the day progressed, the uninvited guests’ behaviour continued to worsen. “They took to the streets, still drinking and littering wherever they went.
“These youngsters were so intoxicated that they were oblivious to the distress they were causing the community members.
“They were urinating right in front of us, some even went into people’s yards and used the lawns to relieve themselves. They walked away as if it was a normal thing to do. Not to mention the others that were vomiting on our properties,” said an upset Schatz.
She attempted to contact Mbombela Municipality, “but no-one answered the phones”. She then phoned the SAPS, whose phone also went unanswered. “I then called our sector manager, Capt Shabango, who advised me to ask for Col Ndlovu at the SAPS office.” Schatz was sent from pillar to post, eventually even attempting to contact Col Nene of visible policing.
In the meantime, a marked SAPS vehicle arrived at the scene, but left. It returned shortly thereafter. Schatz approached the officers and requested they contact their superior. “Their response was that they were looking for two missing children and that they could not do two jobs at once. I know them, it was constables Twala and Subiye.
“I was so frustrated that I phoned the Nelspruit station commander, Brig Thabethe, but one of his children answered his phone and explained that he had left it at home,” she said.
Schatz said during another telephonic conversation with Ndlovu, the colonel apparently told her to wait for her, as she would come to assess the situation herself. “I am still waiting for her today,” she added.
The situation escalated as the day continued. “Some children passed out, others were fighting and some even approached us to ask where the bottle store was, as they couldn’t remember how to get there. As they walked in our streets, they poured alcohol over our community members,” added Schatz.
She explained that more taxis arrived, with some passengers hanging from the windows, “some were even sitting on the roof!”
After having listened to their loud music, shouting, singing, fighting and dancing all day, while their vehicles were spinning and prohibiting the residents’ vehicles from driving on the streets, police officers arrived around 19:00. “They marched them out of our area.”
“But it was too little, too late,” Schatz added, “The damage had already been done.”
“We would like to know from Mbombela if permission was granted for this event – and who had authorised it. Where was the pool caretaker when this was happening and why was no attempt made to contact the authorities? We all know that no alcohol is allowed in the facilities – and these were children!”
“Nelsville looks like a pigsty. Are we supposed to clean up their mess?” she added.
At time of going to print, it could not be confirmed whether the Department of Education had authorised the event.
