Dismay as Onyx Street slides into chaos

Many Onyx Street residents are up in arms over a shebeen on their street, exacerbated by a group of foreigners allegedly causing a ruckus in the area.

Anjini Pillay (74), who is a resident of Onyx Street, complained to the Laudium Sun this past Monday (March 26), “I have been staying close to the shebeen for more than 30 years. There were problems with the shebeen previously. But now, a group of about fifteen foreigners have been renting the house next door to the tavern. Since these new people have come, the chaos around the tavern is so much worse, giving us all sleepless nights. As it is the tavern’s  customers, who even park their cars in our driveway, often throw their empty beer bottles in my yard and I have to clean up their mess. I have also caught some of them urinating shamelessly against my wall, which leaves a sickening stench. My sister, who is also in her seventies, had a heart attack because of the stress that the shebeen's loud noise and fights have placed on her. But now these foreigners are making it worse because they hang around the tavern day and night, making so much of noise. They are really causing a disturbance to the peace.”

Another Onyx Street resident, Hoosein Bhamjee said, “The shebeen owner claims he has a legal license to operate on the premises, but I don't think it's right for a shebeen to be right here in the middle of a residential area, less than 500 metres from a school and nearby church. The customers make a noise, drink, urinate and fight outside, which negatively affects us community members. What about the little kids who have no peace because of the noise. The smell of urine is also really harmful to the asthmatic residents around here. This state of affairs is unacceptable,” Hoosein said irately. The very unhappy Onyx Street resident continued, “I have approached the police about the matter, but they said that their hands are tied and nothing can be done to alleviate the issue. I don’t understand as public drinking is a criminal offence, and so is urinating in public, so why can 'nothing' be done?”

The Laudium Sun spoke to councillor Essop about the plight of the Onyx Street residents. He said, “I wasn't aware of the disturbance in the area and will further investigate, in order to provide proper assistance.” The Laudium Sun also asked the Laudium police for their comment on this issue. Constable Chauke said, “We will make sure that we start patrolling at night from this long weekend, being the Easter weekend, because we know it will be very busy.”

Anjini Pillay said she constantly has to pick up empty beer bottles from her yard.

Hoosein Bhamjee said public drinking is a criminal offence, but the cops don't want to act.

A group including foreigners, who are allegedly causing a nuisance on Onyx Street, Laudium.

The Onyx Street premises where the alleged ruckus takes place.


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