Residents across several suburbs are gatvol with frequent noise from student accommodation, saying loud music frequently continues into the early hours of mornings.

Leadwood Street residents are troubled by persistent noise disturbances, public drinking and rampant littering. Community members blame this on the failure of the City of Mbombela’s (CoM) by-law enforcement to curb noise pollution.

They also accuse Nelspruit police of failing to respond when called to attend to public drinking and disorderly conduct.

ALSO READ: Noise pollution problems persist in Mbombela

Some residents claim that several properties housing students are not even registered as official student accommodation.

Apart from the noise, these students reportedly cause traffic congestion by parking their vehicles in the middle of the road and leaving the streets strewn with empty bottles and tins.

In response, property owners in Leadwood Street and surrounding areas have submitted a formal petition, detailing grievances regarding illegal activities in the park and open spaces in front of Summerplace and Parkwood.

“For an extended period, the community has been subjected to disruptive behaviour, excessive noise, disorderly conduct and significant littering.

ALSO READ: Complaints over Mbombela noise pollution fall on deaf ears

These large, unregulated gatherings create a volatile environment, severely impacting our quality of life,” the petition reads.

It further highlights law enforcement’s failure to address these issues, despite repeated calls to SAPS, municipal law enforcement and ward committees. Residents say this lack of enforcement emboldens offenders, leading to sleep deprivation and safety concerns for children and the elderly.

The petition calls for:

• Regular law-enforcement patrols;
• Strict regulation of noise-control and public drinking by-law enforcement;
• Signage prohibiting alcohol and loitering; and
• Regular maintenance and cleaning of park areas.

Leadwood Street residents are not the only ones suffering. Stonehenge, Acacia, Magda, Belladonna, Boekenhout, De Kock and Bosloerie streets face the same challenges.

The community is urging the municipality to engage directly with property owners to ensure tenants adhere to standards.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said that, though complaints of disturbance of the peace are attended to, most complainants are reluctant to open cases or give statements to the police.

“Several arrests for public drinking were affected in the area. Police patrols will be intensified and we will keep monitoring the area. If a member of the community calls the police on 10111, they are given a reference number. That reference number can be used to lodge a formal complaint at the local police station if the police do not respond. An investigation will then be instituted,” said Masondo.

CoM spokesperson Joseph Ngala acknowledged receipt of media inquiries regarding these issues. At the time of going to press he had not provided formal comment.