The local fair? No, it was a traditional wedding held over the long weekend. One that contained all the ingredients of a recipe for disaster.

Residents in Pongola Street in Aerorand noticed, on Saturday morning, that something big was about to happen when a tent was erected on an empty stand.

Shortly thereafter, party goers started arriving and the music boomed.

A trailer with sheep waited to be slaughtered during the traditional ceremony.

Every so often a car hooter could be heard partaking in the festivities.

Two women living in Pongola Street agreed to speak tot Middelburg Observer on condition that they remain anonymous.

They fear that their names being made public might cause their rowdy neighbours to target them in future.

“There were people everywhere. I was scared just to drive down the street,” one woman said.

Angry residents claim that they were given no notification, either by the Steve Tshwete Municipality or by the organizers of the event.

They were also upset by the slaughtering of animals in a residential area and about the noise that kept on going through the night.

Cars were parked on lawns and sometimes in front of gates of other residents, causing further frustration.

“At midnight someone parked in front of my gate and made one hell of a noise. I was kept wide awake.”

Loud music and rowdy guests deprived the neighbourhood of sleep. According to a comment from DA councillor Hennie Niemann, it was a traditional wedding that took place.

“We phoned the police a couple of times on Saturday. They simply drove through the crowd, smiled and waved at the people blocking the street. People were drinking in public but nothing was done about it,” a resident said.

The party came to an abrupt halt on Sunday evening.

“Soon after someone threatened contacting the newspapers, police arrived on the scene and everything went quiet.

“What I really want to know is how something like this, that breaks so many by-laws, is allowed. The non-stop disturbing of peace and the slaughtering of animals in a residential area? Not even to mention the people drinking in the street and getting behind the wheel drunk. Why was no-one notified about this? Why was nothing done when we complained?”

It seems that the ball is being passed around between authorities.

• Captain Khanyisile Zwane, spokesperson for the Middelburg Police, said that although it is possible that a complaint was lodged, no cases were opened and no arrests were made in connection with the party.

• Steve Tshwete Municipal Manager, Willie Fouché, says that he was not aware of the party.

The traffic department is also adamant that no permission was granted for a party in Pongola Street. It is unclear whether the permission was granted via another department as the relevant people were on leave this week.

• To slaughter animals for traditional ceremonies is a constitutional right, one that was brought under the spotlight when our president, Jacob Zuma, partook in such a ceremony during ANC festivities.

The Middelburg SPCA was notified that four to six sheep would be slaughtered. They however do not have the power to deny or allow such ceremonies.

The notification was done purely out of respect. One might wonder why the person did not show the same respect towards his neighbours.

• The identity of the organizers of the party are not known.

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