Residents in Primrose have recently been plagued by extremely loud music coming from the Makause informal settlement.<\/p>\n
\u201cA number of residents in our area have been reaching out to our authorities to no avail,\u201d said Johan La Grange, a resident of Primrose.<\/p>
\u201cThe music is playing extremely loud right through the weekend \u2013 how can one expect to rest with such havoc surrounding our peaceful neighbourhoods?\u201d<\/p>\n
La Grange said they had contacted the EMPD and SAPS to report the matter and have something done about it.<\/p>
\u201cThe SAPS at least picked up the phone, but as far as their knowledge goes playing music is not a crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have heard that the SAPS members are also too scared to enter the informal settlements,\u201d La Grange said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are very clearly stipulated by-laws that protect home owners against this type of behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n
La Grange believes proper law enforcement needs to be implemented in the settlements to prevent the contravention of the by-laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems our hands are tied behind our backs as law-abiding citizens and tax-paying home owners,\u201d La Grange said.<\/p>\n
The GCN contacted the EMPD and the Primrose SAPS for comment on the matter.<\/p>\n
Sgt Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose SAPS, said, \u201cThe Primrose police are hands-on in monitoring the informal settlements.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Residents warned of title deeds scammers in Ekurhuleni<\/a><\/p>\n Trucks, rain and poor drainage blamed for state of Nasmith Avenue<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe recently closed seven illegal taverns during two operations.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the operations, we visit places where noise is emanating from and ask them to switch off the music.\u201d<\/p>\n Kobeli Mokheseng, the acting spokesperson for the EMPD, told the GCN that EMPD officers monitored the informal settlement over a recent weekend to ensure they did a proper investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo allegedly troublesome (causing loud music) taverns were identified.<\/p>\n \u201cBetween the Friday and Sunday, we were on site monitoring the settlement, even though heavy rains tried to disturb us,\u201d Mokheseng said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe managed to interview one pub owner (situated just opposite from the Primrose Swimming Pool, on Pretoria Road).<\/p>\n \u201cHe was given a verbal warning followed by a workshop in connection with loud music.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mentioned bars will be monitored at regular intervals.\u201d<\/p>\n Mokheseng advised residents to call the metro\u2019s call taking centre on 086 054 3000 or alternatively 011 458 0911 to report noise problems as soon as the noise starts.<\/p>\n With regard to the playing of loud music, Mokheseng said, \u201cAs neighbours we need to respect each other\u2019s privacy. If we know we are planning to have an event in a residential area where loud music will be the order of the day, we must communicate our plans timeously to members in the surrounding neighbourhoods and evaluate and value their opinions.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter taking score, if negative responses outweigh the positive responses, we resort to the appropriate volume (of sound) or we change the venue.<\/p>\n \u201cThe minute an applicant ignores people\u2019s outcry and starts to disturb the peace, is when the EMPD applies the municipal by-laws.\u201d<\/p>\n Mokheseng added that along with bringing a noise disturbance to the attention of the EMPD, residents could also involve their ward councillors or community leaders to assist them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang 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\u00a0<\/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