Ban music bashes!

IRATE residents of uMhlathuze are again calling on the City Council to ban the hosting of music events at the Central Sports Complex in Richards Bay.

With municipal bylaws being flouted and police reportedly unable to keep the noise levels down after midnight on Saturday, fed up residents say ‘enough is enough’.

Veldenvlei residents submitted an open petition to the City on Monday morning against the continued use of the town’s main sports facility for all night music events following Saturday’s music festival – Umgido Session.

Loud music reportedly went on until 7am on Sunday, despite the event hosts – Vinyl Entertainment signing an undertaking with the City to cease noise at 1am.

Residents said they were also tired of authorities shifting fingers of blame and responsibility.

‘When I phoned the nuisance number, they said that at 10pm the music would go softer and the cut-off was midnight,’ said Martina Putter.

‘When I phoned the police station they said they had permission until 3am. We are against music concerts at the Veldenvlei sports facility. They can move to the ZCBF facility.’

City Chief Communications Officer Vukile Mathabela said on Wednesday that the matter was still being investigated.

Richards Bay SAP spokesperson Captain Debbie Ferreira said they would look into the complaint that police reportedly could not intervene before 3am.

‘In normal disturbance of peace cases, police would warn people to turn down music and then confiscate the music equipment if this instruction is not heeded.

‘This company was given approval by the City to host the event.

‘According to Section 4 planning, people need to adhere to the conditions in terms of the application,’ said Ferreira.

The outrage follows complaints from senior citizens at Leisure Gardens last week following the Umlilo Explosion music festival held at the Imbizo Hall in Empangeni on Thursday night which continued until 3am on Friday.

‘I phoned the complaints number at midnight and again at 1am only to be told that the people using the hall told the police that they had permission.

‘We have a constitutional right to rest without this extremely loud music, but then only old people reside at Leisure Gardens, so again, who cares,’ said the pensioner.

When questioned about the role of the Community Safety Forums when hosting such music events, City Chief Whip Cllr Manie Lourens said the body had not sat since 2011 and had to be reconstituted.

He said Community Policing Forums now worked closely with the municipality and municipal bylaws were clear on the matter.

1 OCTOBER

Stop the noise!

RICHARDS Bay community members have vented their outrage over the continued use of the town’s main sports facility for all night music events after a rowdy and sleepless night on Saturday.

Veldenvlei residents submitted an open petition to the City of uMhlathuze on Monday morning following Saturday’s music festival – Umgido Session held at the Veldenvlei Sports Complex.

Loud music reportedly went on until 7am on Sunday, despite event hosts – Vinyl Entertainment signing an undertaking with the City to cease noise at 1am.

‘I insist that the bylaws be implemented in this instance against this organisation as they were totally in breach of the agreement,’ said City Exco Councillor Louis Fourie.

‘Can we find out whether this type of activity was included in the Environmental Impact Assessment done for this facility and if so what were the original time constraints allowed for this type of activity? If not why is the City allowing all night functions? questioned Fourie.

Residents further said it was unacceptable that the music could be heard 2km away from the venue.

‘We the Veldenvlei residents believe it is not appropriate for the City of uMhlathuze to hire out the Veldenvlei Sports Grounds for private music functions, which continue into the early hours of the morning. The people I really feel sorry for are the people living next door to the sports complex and the people living in the old age home and the hospital,’ said resident Rob Cowan.

However, MD of Vinyl Entertainment, Cebo Gama told Eyethu Bay Watch on Monday that they had ‘tried their level best’ to minimise the noise levels.

‘We tried to contain the sound within the marquee and the sound was directed towards Alton and not the residential area. Owing to the inclement weather conditions, people only started arriving after 10pm and we started late. If we had shut down at 1am, we would have been unable to pay the over 50 staff members employed for the event as well as the artists. Through these events, we empower community members in an attempt to reduce crime as a result of unemployment,’ said Gama.

City Chief Communications Officer Vukile Mathabela acknowledged receipt of the open petition on Monday.

‘We will investigate the matter and take necessary action if the outcome points to that direction.’