Spring has definitely sprung, complete with sunny days and warm evenings.<\/p>\n
For many, there is nothing better than the warm evenings with friends, and with this in mind, many guests flocked to Germiston Lake last weekend for RapLyf Records and Kwesta\u2019s three-day-long Spring Break Festival.<\/p>
The ambitious music festival saw artists such as AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Distruction Boyz, Shekhinah, Black Motion and Nadia Nakai, to name a few, taking to the stage to perform for thousands of fans, and though the guests seemed to enjoy themselves, neighbouring residents did not.<\/p>\n
Residents from a number of surrounding suburbs, such as Denlee, Lambton, Dinwiddie, Hazeldene, Castleview, Albemarle and Elsburg, however, didn\u2019t enjoy their weekend as many have complained about the noise from the festival.<\/p>
While a few of the residents were aware the function would be taking place at the lake, very few realised the impact it would have on their peace and quiet. Many have stated music could be heard blared from the lake from the Friday night right up until the early hours of Monday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we appreciate and understand the need for the metro to hire out the facilities at Germiston Lake in order to generate income, we would appreciate that firstly the residents, within a 1km radius, are notified by letter that an event is taking place with a clear indication as to the starting and ending time, and not by an advert, as per the requirements set out in the JOC Guidelines and Procedures for Staging Events,\u201d said Lornette Joseph, chairperson of the LamDel Residents Association.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecondly, that consideration is given to the residents in the area when it involves the times of these events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere was the consideration for community members who had to go to work on Monday with the music going on until 1.30am?\u201d<\/p>\n
The LamDel Residents Association has since started a petition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are calling on all residents to please complete the online petition, we already have over 350 online and in-person signatures and these will be handed to the metro by Ward 39 councillor Alta de Beer,\u201d said Joseph.<\/p>\n
De Beer and Ward 36 councillor Wendy Morgan have been inundated with calls, messages and emails from angry residents demanding answers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirstly, I have no objections to events being held at the lake and it does seem as though it was a well-organised event,\u201d said Morgan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am still not sure, however, if the correct permit was issued.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy concern is the continued loud music played the whole weekend with no consideration for the surrounding community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen applications for events are made ward councillors are not invited to attend the meetings so we are often not fully aware of event details and also cannot raise concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morgan said the noise issue needs to be addressed by the metro as it affected a large number of residents living in the areas surrounding the lake.<\/p>\n
Johan Jacobs, who lives in the Lake Club Apartments, said, \u201cFor two weekends in a row we had to endure the on-going noise from music concerts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last one carried on until the early morning hours for three nights in a row.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could not sleep for the whole duration of every night\u2019s concert, which is a problem as my work requires me to concentrate and work under pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich I could not do on Monday simply because I was too tired,\u201d said Jacobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find it inconsiderate and unreasonable that the metro allows concerts to carry on past 10pm in a residential area.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Budai, from Lambton, commented, \u201cThe noise level from the festival held at Germiston Lake over the weekend was totally unacceptable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was so loud that even 2km away we couldn\u2019t even hear our TV, not to mention sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be very much appreciated if someone could investigate who granted the permit for such an event,\u201d Budai said.<\/p>\n
Local security company SW Security also weighed in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt appears the metro has no respect nor consideration for the residents living in the vicinity of Germiston Lake,\u201d Rick Bezuidenhout said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe music was heard as far as Albemarle, Castleview and even Dinwiddie and after the music stopped, the people leaving were heard racing up and down the streets.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt appears no consideration was given to the impact such an event would have on the local community and how many people would not be able to go to work because of three sleepless nights in a row.\u201d<\/p>\n
The GCN sent a query to the metro asking if the metro was aware of residents\u2019 complaints and when they would be addressed.<\/p>\n
The metro was asked if the right permits were in place for the event and if the metro\u2019s by-laws had been infringed by the noise levels and the duration of the event.<\/p>\n
Finally, the metro was asked why the event had been allowed to continue for as long as it did.<\/p>\n
At the time of going to press no comment had been received from the metro.<\/p>\n
Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n