I have been living next to an extremely amateur drummer (actually fucking useless) for the past 3 and a bit years and have finally become so fed up with the after hours noise that I just called the police. Do not get me wrong, I am all for musicians growing their talents, but in their right mind plays drums before 9am on a Sunday morning, and, after 9pm on a Sunday evening? I will tell you who, this inconsiderate piece of crap that lives next door to me in Atholl South Rd, Camps Bay…That’s who!
If you are that shit it must be classified as pollution?
The fact that I have flu and a blasting head ache probably heightened my anger, but the fact that they never listen when I ask them to stop is the thing that pisses me off. In the wake of this angry outburst I was wondering if anyone actually knew the rules and regulations regarding noise pollution in a heavily residential area. It is not like we live in the Klein Karoo where there is no civilization for miles, yes we actually hear all the shit you play from next door you wanker! The worst thing of all is that this idiot has not even improved one bit over the last 3 years, in fact, they have gotten worse!
Hear No Evil!!!
I understand fully that during the week they might be doing lessons for an hour or so a day, that is 100% fine. But do not wake me up on Sunday morning, God’s day of rest with you crappy, no potential racket please!!! If anyone knows anything about noise pollution and the laws about noise in a residential area, please be so kind as to fill me in. I am dying here with this muppet playing this shite next door…Somebody HELP me!!!
His drum kit sounds like it is even bigger than this okes!
Just read this while I too was looking for the noise regulations in a residential area in Cape Town – who does one contact? Did you have any luck? Has the shitty drummer shut up?!!!!
Please let me know who to call regarding noisy chickens!!!
local police is the best bet Sue! Although they hardly do much…Thank God we are moving!
Please someone help!!!!
We don’t know what to do anymore. We are one of 4 flats in Observatory, Cape Town and we are staying on the top floor. All the other 3 neighbours have a major problem, they keep on slamming the doors and our room is next to the hallway.
We have put up very polite memo’s, asking “Please be more considerate on closing your doors” but with no joy.
We have put up another memo asking “Please you guy’s you killing us upstairs with slamming of the doors: but also with no joy.
We left it for a while and when we could not take it anymore, we went over and ask them very nice to be more considerate when open and closing their doors.
Till this day we had no luck, what is the next step? I am searching on Google for noise pollution and see if I can’t get n letter that we can give to them, warning that we will phone the police.
They come in all hours of the morning, slamming their car doors, activate their alarms, then the alarms go off before they even reaching the front door, go back slamming the car doors, activate the alarm and the same story all over. When they eventually get it right, they unlock the front door, unlock their safety door and their front door, slamming both doors.
What type of person does that????? We not old people, we are in our 40’s are we in the wrong.?????
I feel you pain. That naaier was drumming for 3 years and he is still kak. I got on a ladder, climbed over the wall and tuned the shit out of him. He never played again at an obscure hour. Call the police it is the only way. Or just tell the cops they dealers then they will get raided and probably arrested 😉
environmental health practioners in ur area are the best people to consult in cases of environmental noise. look at the regulation-noise control regulations PN 14 of 2007 for more information
Useless too!!!
Apparently you’ve gotta email your noise complaint to this email: Contact.Us@capetown.gov.za or complain on this number: + 27 21 400 2100 (only during office hours). BUT I’VE NEVER GOTTEN THROUGH OR A REPLY!
Has anyone been totally annoyed by the building work in the City Centre??? I cannot sleeeeeeeep! Feel like I’m a zombie at work… up at 5.30am and have had a migraine for a week.
Just moved from an even noisier place near the Good Hope Centre with a super noisy nightclub called Liquid nearby. From Thurs evening to Monday morning at about 8am – POUNDING music. I’m 26… I love loud music… but seriously! NOT ALL THE TIME!!! Some people are so inconsiderate!!
Mr CT… I know what you mean about the “musicians”… (p.s. I am one myself but…) I have a neighbour who plays the guitar…. He has a lovely (loud but lovely) voice, pity he only knows 3 chords….kills meeee!!!
And Helma, I feel your pain about the doors… neighbours here bang their doors ALL the time!! WHYYY???? I don’t understand some people. 🙁
I hope you all get some sleep and your noise problems go away… for me it seems there is no hope. Wherever I have lived in CT, there has been excessive noise, and it seems that there is no enforcement agency doing a thing about it.
Sorry for my rant, but at least I could get a bit of my frustration out.
I found this website while looking for an emergency line .
As i type this its 1:36 Am and my neighbors are making soo much freaking noise its unbearable.
I’m a student and i have to wake up early to go to school but these Freaks have been partying all night , its the second day in a row since Saturday !!!! And i haven’t been able to sleep because they had the great idea of having a Karaoke session at 1Am , they need to get Jobs asap ! I CAN’t Take this anymore !
Especially that they sing like constipated crows
(I am sorry for the offensive complaint but i just can’t help it )
We need more efficient laws against this type of things in Residential areas !!!!!!!!!
Agreed and the cut off time for music is midnight in residential areas! PS loved the complaint 🙂
Hi there,
I’ve read all the above posts and I totally agree with all of you.
I’ve got the opposite problem though…
We moved into our gorgeous home in Pinelands 3 years ago after my daughters dad passed away. I’m now engaged to be married to a wonderful guy.
We moved in in July and in Dec my two daughters were swimming and laughing (I should possibly add here that they are well brought up) sad that I actually have to say this.
Well that’s when it started…. the old lady next door called the police who then came out 17 times that day!!!! From the very beginning they said that the laughter was not loud and actually normal for children. (they didn’t have any loudspeakers)
This went on and on over summer. I eventually got the Child Protection Unit involved and she ran around claiming back all her letters of complaints.
In January this year she complained about my Yorkie barking at the dustman. R400 fine if she feels the urge to complain) He really only has a little yelp on Monday mornings. He’s usually watching TV. lol
Then about some leaves I had stored. As soon as it reaches 10 black bags I take them to the Tip. (her Oak tree she refuses to trim back) = R1000 fine if not removed in 7 days)
You see, she knows she has no case about childrens NORMAL laughter in the pool so she’s going after everything she can think of instead.
I’ve tried everything to be her friend but nothing helps. This last Dec my children were whispering in the pool. I looked at them and thought what are we doing. Why can’t they laugh. At that point the youngest broke wind keeping her laughter in and they both burst out laughing put their hands over their mouths and said sorry mommy. 15 minutes later Law Enforcement were over with a complaint from the neighbour!
The list goes on and on…..
2 weeks ago I gave notice as I cannot even look at her house anymore. We all feel so victimised by her. She found out we are moving and after 3 years has informed me that she is taking me to court for the childrens laughter and that she is going to sue me for emotional damages. Me !!!! She’s sueing me. The last time they swam was in Feb. It’s now nearly July.
Lesson to be learnt, don’t feel sorry for little old ladies! They can be very dangerous and full of hatred towards children. Some people are just born bad or take out their own issues on other people.
I still won’t counter sue. It’s not who I am. The wheel will turn.
That is absolutely ridiculous!!!
That neighbor must have something against children , Shame on her ! Your daughters shouldn’t have to live in those conditions
That is totally sick of Law Enforcement even to approach, i’m writing this at 4am Sunday morning stay in Maitland, noisy neighbours only stopped playing now, have to get up for church in a few hours, Law enforcement and SAPS have to get their priorities in order, they have to issue strict fines for breaking the noise laws no warnings and fine those for laying frivolous complaints, shame on her for complaining for children enjoying themselves, maybe invite her for a swim.
We have people that stay behind us and they play music from early in the morning till late at night like in 2-3 in the morning its been two years we don’t know what to do anymore anyone with advise we have a peace order and the police did nothing!!! Please someone help
If you live in Cape Town you are unlikely to get any support. I’ve had an ongoing noise disturbance next door for six months. I have tried environmental affairs, noise control, law enforcement, the SAPS, the building managers, consumer council and rental housing tribunal. I have even emailed the authorities, including the ward Councillor. All of them tell me it is not their problem. SAPS sent me to law enforcement, law enforcement sent me to the SAPS, provincial government sent me to municipal government and municipal government sent me to the SAPS. The bylaws are pointless. Nobody is enforcing them.
Regarding Noise pollution
To report any offences, 107 can be dialled from any land line or 021 480 77 00. VOC (Tashneem Abrahams)
Apaparently you cannot make a noise at any time
Furthermore persistent drumming which may not be loud but merely a monotonous continuous noise is also not permitted
I have bongo drum players opposite my flat on Beach Road Sea Point
Sea pOint police were no help but the lady I spoke to appeared to be well aware of matters and said teh police were not the party to address this matter to.
I foud the numbers on this site.
http://www.vocfm.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=4491&Itemid=131
Apparently it is a 24hr emergency number
hi anthony can i get that number please
We have the same problem here in Pretoria, our neighbours play loud music till early in the morning and when you phone the police / metro they just say we don’t have a vehicle or there are more important cases that nee our attention, when my Husband went to the metro offices to file as official complaint they told Him to ask for a ref no when he calls for Help so he can file a complaint the next day, but when he phones them for help they don’t give ref no. One cannot take action on your own then you are the wrong party we must just shut up and smile.
New neighbours moved in opposite me,a mechanic who decides to rev a car continuously after 10pm in the week and early saturdays and sundasy,hell nooooo
I have reported noise disturbance more than three times to the SAPS via 10111 nothing has been done, they always have lame excuse of not pitching up. Our police officers are not helping at all.
What’s the use of having regulations which are just in law books and not being practiced is just useless I guess. Nobody cares in this country.
Hi Fellow Sufferers of Inconsiderate Neighbours’ Noise – I have just sent a text to my next-door neighbour informing her that tomorrow I will be lodging an official complaint with city law enforcement (Cape Town) about her tenants’ incessantly barking bloody dog.
Over the past 9 months, since she let out her garden cottage to a woman with two dogs, one a high-pitched yelper who wakes us up/drives us mad when we are awake AND gets over our wall and leaves piles of steaming dog shit on our lawn – I have sent polite texts, phoned her and made polite requests, phoned her and told her I’m so stressed I’m on anti-depressant medication/phoned her and told her that I have to leave my house and go and work somewhere else during the day/finally phoned and texted her a last warning that I’m going to report her – guess what – NOTHING has happened.
I hate this neighbourly unpleasantness but my nerves and my life are affected by this constant noise.
The number to phone in Cape Town is 021-5961999 – from City of Cape Town Law Enforcement website.
I have even found the By-law which states that no dog must bark for more than 6 minutes in an hour
I’m not confident of getting much joy but will do this tomorrow because I’ve HAD ENOUGH!
Finally – I HATE DOG OWNERS!!
Hi! The €u Medics have drawn the attention of the public to the fact that there is a higesurge in deafness amongst the younger generation. Loud music damages the hearing !
Parents can be prosecuted as welll as night-clubs!
Remember !
going on 4 years now, i have faced continuous noisy deliveries starting at 5am Monday to Sunday. My bedroom faces into the receiving yard of Pick and Pay. Management of PnP are powerless to stop the suppliers. As the PnP staff don’t get to work before 630 the deliveries are just thrown down on pallets which sound like fireworks. I have now decided that action will be taken at the Police station against PnP.
Please could someone explain to be what is an acceptable noise level regarding woodwind instruments! The neighbours behind our house practices 3 to 4 hours a day blowing this false notes! We even resorted to closing our windows and put on our own music to drown out their false music. my children are unable to study !!!! Do you need a permit to run a music business from a residen
Can some one pls tell me what the legal time is for loud music or noise resulting from physical fighting? My neighbours party day and night especially on sundays. They swear,break things and even hit one another while their rave music is incredibly loud,all this in the road. This has been going on for years and when we ask them to be quite they swear at us or throw our house with stones. Most of the other neighbours and us have phoned the police but they just drive past and leave again. We live in a small community where the houses are close together and we all tolerate each other,but this is getting out of hand and enough is enough. These people are terrorising our community. Is there some thing we can do,or should we just be quite and accept it.
So it’s 2:18AM . Already complained twice to SAPS, and again the Metro Police about a MASSIVE party 2 house down from me, easily 60 people. Loud music has been playing since 4pm. I have absolutely no problem with loud music in early hours of the night, but past 11 tends to get on my nerves. So SAPS did come, not sure if they even left their vehicle though…. so I phoned metro police (who I am told can take the matter further by issueing a fine) . Still nothing. And this is not the first time. I’m going to file a written complaint and see where that goes. From my point of view, it is a violation of free will (because I want to sleep but they’re keeping me up), as well as a violation of the Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act 73 of 1989) – Noise control regulations, 1999 Section 9 – Prohibition of Noise Nuisance . Both after hours and VERY LOUD.
Hi all..
Just moved to capetown 6 months ago and living in century city. not sure if any one can help with this or might know how I can find out about….. three annoying beeps !!! sounds like an alarm/siren. . every day , all day , all night ..two short and one long beep. it sounds like it’s coming from Koeberg Rd side/beach.. just want to know if any one knows about this ? maybe harbour ? its just why allllllll the time ? Thanks J
hi all
my moogoo neighbour moved next to us three months ago. its been hell since. he plays loud deep bass doef doef crap. he has been approached but still subjects us to his shit till past 1am.if he don’t stop I will damage something of his. can I?
Hi To All
I’m wondering if Anyone to find help about my neighbor’s Dog which allocated my back of where I live, the Dog is loose all the time if I need to leave to the back of the house I have to phone the owner of the Dog otherwise no use at my back side. Please Help
I live in the City centre Cape Town, and recently there has been a consistent siren alarm noise that persists the WHOLE night and right through the day. WTH???!!! it doesn’t stop and its somewhere in the lower foreshore Heerengracht area. its annoying and just blares siren/alarm noise consistently.
Hey guys,
I live in a small town called Balfour and although residential, its hardly a town. Anyway, on Saturday we actually had a party after the new Currie cup season kicked off and with all the upsets, (matches) we had allot to talk about. 8 o’clock Saturday evening we saw police vehicle lights across the road so we went to investigate.. Sadly the police was there for us for noise pollution. (its an oldish lady living across the road) 8 O’clock??? when we told the cop that the music was only at about halfway and asked him if we are breaking any laws he started laughing and said no. She is trying to sue us now for noise pollution? Is that acceptable? What are the laws regarding that? No need to say that we finished braaing and went inside at 9 o’clock that night. Party was crashed by the complaint. We are not unreasonable people but would like to stop her from making our lives missarable for something so stupid and so early.. Best regards.
Hi.
I got a church that opened next to me and they play loud music, sometimes till 11pm.
Did complain about the booming in my flat, but it falls on deaf ears. What can I do?
The number to phone in Cape Town is 021-5961999 – from City of Cape Town Law Enforcement website.
I have even found the By-law which states that no dog must bark for more than 6 minutes in an hour
I live in a block of flats in Claremont and someone in the area has a car alarm that goes off EVERY SINGLE DAY and it goes off for at least an hour before it stops. And it’s one of those old annoying alarms that had 5 different noises. I’ve tried looking for the car so that I can speak to its owner directly but with no luck. Often it goes off after 00.00am and wakes me up almost every night. It’s driving me mad. Is there anything I can do about this??? I feel like going to the police of the city of Cape Town is a bit too dramatic but I honestly can’t take it anymore.
What the law says about noise
The law states that you cannot make ‘unreasonable’ noise at the following times:
Sundays and public holidays
Before 06H00 and after 17H00 on Saturdays
Before 08H00 and after 18H00 on any other day than those listed above.
Hi James
Do you know which piece of legislation this is contained in? I would like to refer to it as an attachment.
Kindly,
Karl Haupt
That is Not so! the Environment Conservation Act, rehashed in 1998 (originally 1989) & section of the Constitution, states with regard to ‘noise nuisance’; means Any sound (noise) which disturbs or impairs or may disturb or impair the convenience or peace of any other person; and that covers every day at any time!! there is NO time, day or night that you may disturb the peace of another!! another section of the Act states; No person shall make, produce or cause disturbing noise, or allow it to be made, produced or caused by any person, animal, machine, device or apparatus or any combination thereof; it covers all nuisance noise polluters; like, animals (eg. barking dogs) power tools, motor vehicles & motor bikes, radio, television set, drums*, leafblowers, ( these dikhead things have been banned from residential areas all over the world for the past 25yrs)etc, etc., the Act & the constitution protects the right of every individual to be afforded peace & quiet at any time! and anyone that contravenes this & continues to ignore a warning by the Police…. ( the police are the ones who you call to enforce these laws; or if there is law enforcement officials in your town who specifically attend to noise pollution; call them)……. perpetrators may be fined up to R20 000, or prison for up to 2yrs, & also have the noise producing items confiscated & the court may declare any vehicle, power tool, musical instrument or equipment, or animal, forfeit to the local authority! most citizens do not know about this! now you do! spread it far & wide! noise makers are people without respect & consideration & should Not be tolerated by society!! Grenville
Well put Grenville. I am busy searching for appropriate ways/literature to approach a neighbour who has been drumming since Friday. It is a rare Monday off for me but still the drumming continues…Can even hear it in the freaking shower on the back side of the house. Going to take a wee stroll across the road and see what happens.
Reckon all music shops should insist on selling Practice Pads with every Drum-kit… Great, think they just opened the garage/house door ‘coz now it’s super loud.
I’m off to see if I get any joy!
You are all a bunch of Wankers, Go stay on the karoo if you do not want any noise.
LOL
Ai, I just love these arrogant Stevens. We are living in the great age of technology so I say to all the complainants, use technology to fix your noise problems.
I effectively helped my neighbor to fix a Steven with 3 barking, howling dogs – all day and night. It took me only one day to fix those Stevens good and proper.
PM me @ fokolokko@gmail.com and I’ll give all the tips and tricks.
My neighbour DOESNT WANT TO HEAR MY MUSIC. He’s not complaining of excessive or unreasonable noise, but doesnt want to hear my music. Now honestly I only play on Saturday or Sunday, and I feel I also have a right to enjoy my house as much as I should consider his right to enjoy his … but seriously, people just need to realize that a degree of tolerance makes for peaceful existence. Or maybe it’s the lyrics in my rap music – but then I wont apologise for that. Fuck this shit!!
I have been having a problem with Bob Marley. Well at least he thinks he is. He cannot sing at all, and do so at any hour in the day in front of a Checkers store in Oakdale. I am not the only one having this problem, as this asshole “does it for the Church”. And the only lyrics I hear is “Omega”.
The police is useless with their drive-by look out of the car investigations. Law enforcement is crap! nothing gets done. The only people willing to do something is VRCID. But the fucker does not get the message. He cannot sing! He sound like a pig in a slaughter house. There are people living near this crap working nightshift, studying for exams etc, but nothing, nadda fuck-all gets done!
People are allowed to make noise aslong as they doing it according to the law. If you dont like the music or whatever they are playing live in a old age home. The laws are there so you can play your music make your noise and people can sleep whenyou stop complaining its how shit works
My neighbour hosts a church gathering at her garage day and also night, we dont mind the day but at night cant we get some sleep
Joan C
A new siren has recently
been installed at our school. The noise level is deafening. When you are outside or near it, you actually get a fright and it gives me an earache.
The janitor refuses to turn the volume down.
What can we do to force the volumeo of this siren to be turned down? We will have to enforce this – asking nicely doesn’t help,
Please advise
Cindy
i live in cape town, opposite wembley square, and every sunday at 8.30am until 5pm, in the house next door to me, is the most disgusting, loud, intrusive “church” or something along those lines…ffsakes, the WHOLE day!!! my every sunday is fucked becoz of this shit! a band, a preacher with a fucking microphone, never in english, seems to change every week, and even with me turning my music up to block out the noise, i can still hear the shit…clearly!!! what do i do? and who can i contact regarding this issue…please, im on the verge of barging in there and probably get myself arrested! surely this cnnot be legal…if it was just a morning thing i wouldnt mind, but its the whole day…cummon man, give a dog a bone ffsakes!!
I recently moved to a residential area where there is an animal feed factory bombing along sometimes 24 hours a day – continuous grinding whining noise. Apparently the factory was extended recently and therefore the noise is much worse than it used to be. I have a reference number from the municipality and they are “working on it”, but why site a factory in the middle of a residential area? Isn’t this already breaking the by-laws?The town needs industry and I don’t mind the daytime noise so much, but all night long? It’s driving the people here to drink (good for the wine industry I suppose).