DEAR Editor;
I, Ria Loggenberg, a Pretoria resident who holidayed in Scottburgh during the festive season, was at one of the local restaurants on December 16 enjoying live music when after just the third song and to my surprise, everything was stopped by Scottburgh Saps officers.
Police forbid the musicians at the restaurant from playing live music and when I queried it, I was told by police that it was against the Disaster Management Act to do so.
I did not agree with this and when the police left the restaurant, I approached them outside and insisted that this was incorrect and that the national act states that live music is not allowed in parks – with no mention of anything to do with restaurants. I also questioned what would happen if the live music were to continue and was told that the musician’s instruments and equipment would be confiscated and the restaurant shut down.
I recall being intimidated when I approached them and after pointing out article 15 on page 9 of the copy of the act I was shown, it was snatched away from my hands by an officer.
I later on approached my lawyer in Pretoria, Mr Len Dekker, who confirmed that my interpretation of the act was correct. While questioning the actions taken by Saps, I was told to keep quiet and stop questioning them or else I would be arrested.
As a regular visitor in the town since 1974, I felt publicly humiliated, threatened and treated rudely by the police. I invest in Scottburgh to help boost the economy, but I feel that we cannot do this because the restaurant was trying to up their business by attracting people with live music and the police not permitting the music drove away their customers.
When I also tried to record my confrontation with Saps, I was told that my phone would be confiscated.
I did not want to argue with the police, but rather seek answers for their actions.
I request an apology from the police officers I spoke to on the day.
After speaking to others, I also question why live music can be played in Amanzimtoti (the neighbour town) and not in Scottburgh whereafter I was told that the law applying to Scottburgh is not the same as for Amanzimtoti.
This was national legislation applicable to all towns but I was told differently.
I was also prohibited from speaking to the national commissioner and I stressed the fact that these officers got the wrong instructions to follow.
I look forward to hearing from the Scottburgh Saps and feel that they owe the restaurant in question, as well as another local restaurant which I was told dealt with the same problem, an official apology in writing on their letterhead and in this newspaper, also to the public visiting local restaurants.
RESPONSE from Saps
Scottburgh Saps stated that it would deal with the matter privately. Communications officer, Captain Adam Francis, stated the following: “No loud music, whether live or otherwise, is permitted or allowed, according to the Disaster Management Act.”
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