Noisy celebrations annoy senior citizens

Senior citizens have been complaining that noise in residential areas has become a big problem for them.

This is especially the case towards the end of a year and the beginning of a new year, with reports of especially loud social gatherings accompanied by loud “boom boom” and “doef doef” music.

In this regard, municipal bylaws define the term ‘nuisance’ as “any condition, thing, act or omission which is offensive or injurious or which tends to prejudice the safety, good order, peace or health of the area or part thereof or the rights or reasonable comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of any neighbourhood within the area”.

Bylaws also say that “no person shall disturb the public peace in or upon any premises by the production of any sound”.

One particular senior citizen (who would like to remain anonymous) says that the most important thing to learn from the above is that no time of day or night is mentioned in these bylaws, nor do they refer to the Old Year, New Year, Guy Fawkes or any remembrance or religious occasion.

He says it’s all about “reasonableness” and that in the new year, we should all try to be reasonable to one another and in this way create a happier community for everyone. On the other end of the equation, any person found to be contravening municipal bylaws will be found guilty of an offence. Police can then act and a protection officer can issue a spot fine of up to R300.