New Year bash fuels complaints
Residents fed up with the constant noisy events hosted at the uMhlathuze Regional Sports Complex
WHILE many danced into the new year, shift workers and other irate residents were sleepless in the Bay due to the rowdy uThungulu Last Dance Music Festival hosted at the uMhlathuze Regional Sports Complex on New Year’s Eve.
Despite noise complaints to the municipality after previous functions hosted at the sports complex in Veldenvlei, no attempt has been made to use an alternate venue, such as ZCBF residents say that it is not so much the music festivals that are an issue but more so the venue at which they are hosted.
Readers inundated the Zululand Observer online sites with complaints.
‘Laws are put in place for a reason. I live near Essenwood Spar and have been kept awake by events held at the sports ground, as have friends of mine living in Birdswood. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the poor people living closer. Where were these events held before they were allowed at the sports complex? ZCBF would be a better venue,’ wrote Jayne Grange.
‘Could they not have chosen Naval Island for this? Every time a festival is held there we have been kept up. What about the poor people working shifts? And the emergency services expected to save lives if (God forbid) something happens with no rest? Seriously not well organized and no compassion for anyone,’ added Mandy.
City of uMhlathuze Chief Communications Officer Vukile Mathabela said that no event may be hosted at the uMhlathuze Regional Sports Complex without there being a Section 4 meeting to approve the event.
‘A permit was granted to host this event. And during our planning, it was ensured that all laws and safety measures were abided by and no incidents were reported following the recent event,’ he said.
‘This is the only sports complex we have, and it is at the event planners’ prerogative to choose which venue to use. The City’s bylaws were not contravened by the hosting of this event during our planning,’ he added.
‘It is events such as these that assist the City with tourism consequently leading to an economic boost.
‘The ZCBF grounds cannot host as many people as the Sports Complex. There are many logistical issues involved in selecting a venue for specific events. The Municipality is looking at a permanent solution and there are hopes of plans being implemented to build a convention centre for our City,’ he said.
‘The rugby, cricket and other clubs host events at the sports grounds too. By building an additional venue, it will allow us more options to spread out the hosting of certain events,’ said Mathabela.
Utter BS! How can they say “all laws and safety measures were abided by”?
Ask anyone who has attended a Section 4 meeting for hosting an event – Dolosfees would be a good example. Ask her what time she is told in the meeting that her music has to be turned off by because this is a residentail area?
Double standards
The municipality stance clearly has no consideration for the residents that pay their salary. I live 1km from this sports ground and the music from my house was too loud for comfort. If they hold another one of these while I live here, they will need to send the police to arrest me for sabotage as I will take action to stop the noise as is my right to safety and health living in this area. If the police and the municipal officials cannot take care of the residents who appointed them, they must beware, because those same residents will take them down with just as little remorse.
I think the municipality should clearly advertise future functions like this in the ZO and anyone that lives in a 10km radius of the sports complex should attend the section 4 meeting and vote against it. The only way we will stop this noise pollution is to stand together as a community and vote NO at the meetings.