VIDEO: Unbearable noise at Cascades Shopping Centre
LITTLE FALLS – Residents complain about the noise that originates from the shopping centre in Cascades Road at night.
A video containing footage of drag racing, fighting and loud music from the Cascades Shopping Centre, corner of Cascades Road and Victoria Avenue has emerged.
A blurred and dark amateur video shows a car drag racing along the street with voices of people arguing as if they are fighting.
Residents complained about Cascades Pool Lounge and insisted it was contributing to noise and ongoing fighting at the centre.
This has been going on for more than six months and it has since escalated.
Read previous story: Bar disturbs residents
On 21 February a man was allegedly threatened during a scuffle at the centre and some of the residents witnessed the incident through their windows.
A resident, who doesn’t want to be named for fear of victimisation, explained that during the weekend they do not sleep at all because of the noise.
However, the pool lounge owner, Kobus Mans, maintains that he cannot control what happens outside his lounge and the noisy people were not his customers.
“They come here when they are already intoxicated and play music from their cars outside our lounge,” he explained.
He further indicated that he never allows his customers to leave the bar with bottles of alcohol or while drinking.
Mans confirmed that his bar sometimes closes at 3am. “It is because of the casino section, I cannot chase away people who are gambling because they have paid their money,” he said.
He continued that some days they close late because of pool league competitions. “Players play until late and they make a noise when they are leaving which I cannot control,” he concluded.
Ward 97 Councillor Jaco Engelbrecht explained that he would escalate the problem to the JMPD and the City of Joburg.
The City however, is yet to establish this transgression of bylaws and respond to media questions.
Centre manager Tim Menezef indicated that he was not aware that one of his tenants was causing problems in the area.
When Roodepoort Northsider contacted him he answered that the last complaint he was aware of was about two years ago.
“I will arrange with the lounge owner and try to solve this problem, then we will take it from there,” concluded Menezef.
Details: Cascades Pool Lounge, 011 022 9121; Ward 97 Councillor Jaco Engelbrecht, 082 510 5596; Cascades Shopping Centre, 010 0010 790.
Related articles:
OPINION: How to handle noise in your neighbourhood
