Prof. Harry Sewlall writes:
I wish the revelers had never come to George Lea Park. It is well and good for ward councillor Gordon Mackay to bless the occasion with his speech, but it is the ratepaying residents of Parkmore who have to wear earplugs or put up with the unacceptable level of noise that would have gone on till past 8pm if the heavens, thankfully, had not opened up.
I don’t know where the ward councillor lives, but I am on Fifth Street and I have to bear the brunt of the noise every time the park is used by people who don’t generally live in the area. This time, residents from as far as Hurlingham were annoyed by what can only be termed public disturbance. This speaks volumes about what is happening to our property values in Parkmore and adjacent areas.
For the past month or so we have had a religious group holding their service on Sunday mornings. Their tent opens out in the direction of the street where I reside. Although the gospel rock that issues out of this tent is a pleasure to listen to, it goes on for more than four hours. And it sets a precedent for other groups to follow.
Why do interest groups converge on Sandton and the George Lea Park in particular? Is it because this community is seen to be more tolerant than others? My tolerance is running out.
I am no philistine who hates popular music or the idea of people worshipping their god or gods. I present academic papers regularly in the USA on rock and roll. I don’t mind listening to loud music if it is performed at a venue like the FNB Stadium, but not 400m from where I live. Please put an end to this disturbance at George Lea Park which was not created for large unruly crowds and chaotic parking.
