Walls of notorious Little Falls house party venue vandalised in early morning attack
Owner of Babylon Mansion feels unsafe after home vandalised with threats and graffiti.
Warnings have been sprayed on the exterior of a controversial private residence.
Babylon Mansion, as the New Chum Street home is known, has created friction in the otherwise calm suburban street. The owners are accused by residents of hosting questionable parties, allegedly involving underage drinking while causing general disruptions to the lives of neighbours. The owners hosted a music video shoot on Worker’s Day, prompting
paint-carrying vigilantes to vandalise the outside of the property in the early hour ofdarkness of Thursday, May 4.
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The early morning graffiti attack had the Meys waking up to the words ‘War’, ‘no illegal parties and ‘last chance’ sprayed onto their wall. Paint was smeared on their new video intercom and the signature concrete ball at the entrance was covered in white and red paint. No criminal cases have been opened relating to any activities at Babylon Mansion, but one has now been opened at Honeydew Police Station relating to the vandalism.
Tensions between Andrea Mey, owner of Babylon Mansion, and the residents of New Chum Street came to a head on April 8, when partygoers clashed with law enforcement. Since then, Andrea claims to have been the victim of verbal attacks, threats of physical violence, aggressive gestures in the streets and the turning of her property into a mini-tourist attraction. Andrea claims people regularly drive slowly round the cul-de-sac and past the house, gawking at her family.
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As well as the antics of her guests, residents mainly complain about excessive music. “No person shall operate or play, or allow to be operated or played, a radio, television set, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, loudspeaker system or a similar device producing or reproducing or amplifying sound to cause a noise nuisance,” stated Johnnesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperon, Xolani Fihla, outlining the noise disturbance by-laws.
The Worker’s Day music video shoot, which did not continue into the night, prompted another visit from JMPD. Andrea claimed the exchanges were again hostile and the constant negative interactions with the entity have left her wary of authorities. Andrea harbours animosity towards JMPD and blames them for stresses caused to her family, claiming her and her three children have all had nightmares following the April 8 fiasco.
In the aftermath of the April party, a petition was started by residents aimed at the activities at Babylon Mansion. Andrea claims when entering a nearby pharmacy that was helping to gather signatures, the female behind the counter attempted to have Andrea sign it, not knowing who she was. Andrea felt the contents of the petition were an invasion of her privacy and as it contained her physical address, was a security threat, adding to her growing fears for her family’s safety.
The mother of three believes the vitriol aimed at her house began long before the parties, suggesting the concrete ball outside the house upset her neigbour’s religious sensibilities. After being unable to give the giant orb away, Andrea paid an artist to paint symbols on the concrete ball which might amplify the Babylon mystique. The ball suffered the most damage from the paint attack with a R5 000 insurance excess being an added sucker punch as a result of the vandalism.
Parties advertised online, which Andrea says she has asked promoters to tone down, were a key concern of residents and Andrea was coy in saying whether they would continue or not. She said she sees no reason why she needs the permission of her neighbours to have guests around and feels neighbours want to dictate who her family welcomes into their private residence and when.
Shaken and annoyed, yet defiant, Andrea reiterated her desire to live a social life free of outside scrutiny. She accused her neigbours of spreading lies and basing their attacks on unsubstantiated rumours. “I can’t understand why I can’t have any sound coming from my home. It is a bit out of line”.
