Loud nightclubs in Centurion keeping residents awake
Lyttelton police station say they have not received any complaint about loud night clubs recently.
The Tshwane metro said it was aware of the Centurion residents complaints about the level of noise coming from drinking establishments in the neighbourhood.
Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told Rekord that the City was in the process of taking steps to ensure that an amicable resolution to the matter is found.
“Yes, the City is aware of the complaints and is prepared to take steps to ensure the resolution of the complaints. Where there is a deadlock in resolving the complaints a referral of the matter to the Municipal Court will be made for prosecution,” Mashigo said.
He said the City was enforcing the Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act 73 of 1989) and noise control regulations of 1999 which prohibit people from playing loud music.
“The City enforces the Gauteng noise control regulations which provides that no person may operate and play or allow to be operated or played a sound amplifier, loudspeaker system or similar device producing or reproducing or amplifying sound, so as to cause a noise nuisance, hence it is seen as an offence if these types of devices or apparatus are played in a manner that creates a nuisance or noise disturbance.”
Mashigo said the City ensured that non-compliance to the regulations was dealt with in line with the policies and standard operating procedures for managing noise within the city.
Recently a resident complained about the noise from drinking establishments in the area.
Nico van Rensburg told Rekord that he has been trying to engage with the owners of establishments and the police but nothing had come of it.
Van Rensburg claimed the owners had threatened some complainants hence no-one wanted to complain anymore for fear of victimisation.
“We have been victimised by the owners of one of the facilities in the past. We are all afraid. They know where we live, and they have been in our streets and in front of our houses if we complain,” Van Rensburg said.
The residents complained that they have been reporting the matter to the police, but nothing has been done to date.
Lyttelton police station said it has not received a formal complaint from residents regarding the noise from drinking establishments in the area.
“To my knowledge, there are no formal complaints against a nightclub or restaurants in respect of noise at Lyttelton SAPS,” Lyttelton police spokesperson, Captain Dave Miller said.
He said the police were not responsible for enforcing by-laws but compliance in terms of the law.
“The noise complaints are dealt with by the metro police. In terms of the liquor outlets, our liquor officers from the SAPS check compliance with regard to the liquor acts. The noise complaints are more of a by-law issue.”
Miller, however, confirmed that the police receive complaints about noise and that if they found that the noise was too high, they asked the said establishment owner to lower the volume.
“We do get noise complaints from time to time and usually once the guilty [offending] parties have been addressed, then usually the music is turned down.
“The noise complaint is more a metro police issue, but if we do receive a complaint then it is addressed.”
When Rekord approached these establishments, the owners declined to comment.
However, it seems not everyone is bothered by the noise.
Resident Charlotte Ngubeni said instead she enjoyed listening to the music from the establishments, especially on Sundays.
“Look I am a young person, obviously vibe is in my DNA, I enjoy the music no mistake. I also frequent these places so it really doesn’t bother me at all,” Ngubeni added.
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