City addresses ongoing Empangeni noise complaint

THE City of uMhlathuze has prioritised an ongoing noise complaint in Addison Street in Empangeni.

A paper trail of complaints addressed to the city’s Municipal Manager, uMhlathuze Traffic Department and SAPS, date back to October last year after irate residents reported loud music being blasted into the early hours of the morning at a premises situated opposite Game.

The premises, which fronts as an internet café during the day, will be subject to an investigation by the city’s by-law team.

‘The city has been monitoring that site after warning the owner. We did receive a further complaint and the bylaw enforcement team will attend to the matter as a matter of urgency,’ said city spokesperson Mdu Ncalane.

According to the City of uMhlathuze nuisances by-laws under section 7:

• No person shall cause a noise nuisance, or allow it to be caused, by operating or playing any radio, television set, musical instrument, sound amplifier, loudspeaker system or similar device producing, reproducing or amplifying sound

• Any person who:

(a) contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of these by-laws or a direction issued by the Council in terms of these bylaws, or a condition imposed under these by-laws;

(b) obstructs or hinders any person in the execution of any power or the performance of any duty or function in terms of any provision of these by-laws; or

(c) furnishes false, incorrect or misleading information when applying for permission from Council in terms of a provision of these by-laws; is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to a fine and/or imprisonment as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.