The stage during last year’s Ultra Cape Town music festival.
A music festival that was held at Kenilworth racecourse last year and which drew a flood of noise complaints now plans to return to the venue in March, but residents are signing a petition to stop it.
The online petition against the Ultra Cape Town music festival being held at the racecourse on Friday March 1 was started by Wynberg East resident Fiona Clayton, and so far, 149 people have signed it.
It claims there was inadequate consultation; the event was advertised without the permit having been signed off; and that noise from the event could threaten wildlife at the racecourse’s nature reserve.
Ms Clayton said she had only learnt about last year’s event through a Facebook post.
“The noise became intolerable during the course of the evening as the music got louder – with the bass causing windows to tremble. I was up all night, as were many other neighbours, as a result of the noise,” she said.
City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the events-permit office was still assessing the application from the event organiser to hold the event on Friday March 1 from 2pm till 2am.
“The event organiser is also in the process of engaging with ratepayers’ associations and councillors in areas around Kenilworth racecourse.”
Last year, residents told the Tatler they had had little prior warning about the event, which they said had kept them up until the early hours with its loud music (“Residents fume over noisy music festival,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, Thursday March 16).
June Lune, of Wynberg, said the music had been so loud that it had felt like she had been at the concert. “I have two young children who simply weren’t able to sleep, and the concert was not advertised well enough that I could have made plans to not be home.”
June Roman, of Kenwyn, said she had started hearing the noise around 9pm on Thursday March 9 with the testing of sound equipment. “Then on Friday afternoon, there was this loud music booming from the direction of Wetton Road.”
Loretta Atkins, of Ottery, said it had felt as if the music was being played in front of her house, which is over 10km away from the venue.
Reflecting on last year’s event, Ward 58 councillor Katherine Christie said she had informed her constituents about it. “However, we didn’t think of informing residents south and east of Ward 58 – south of Wetton Road (Plumstead, Wynberg) and east of the M5 (Kenwyn). Residents in these suburbs heard the music and didn’t know where it was coming from, and this caused consternation.”
Ms Christie said she had only received one complaint from a Kenilworth resident. She said councillors had little say over such events and simply had to indicate whether they supported or objected to them.
“I have met several times with the COO of Cape Racing and the event manager, advocating for as little nuisance to our residents as possible for this year’s festival. The stage faces south east, towards the Youngsfield Military Base, and, as such, is not meant to affect residents significantly. We have agreed to be on a WhatsApp group from which my colleagues in other wards and I can voice any complaints from residents,” she said.
Ms Clayton, however, believes the festival should be held at a more remote venue, and she questioned how it could be advertised without the necessary permits in place and what criteria were used to select the racecourse as a venue.
The event would be held a week before Ramadaan and would continue to coincide with the start of Ramadaan should the venue be used again next year, she said.
“It cannot be that the hosting of this event trumps the rights of the residents living around the racecourse,” she said.
“I need to reiterate that the residents of Wynberg East were not consulted, at all. This is dismissive of the right to have our concerns heard, acknowledged and taken into consideration.”
Yunus Karriem, chairman of the Wynberg East Civic Association, said they had not been approached by any councillor, the City or event organisers.
The association’s objections mainly related to the volume and the time the festival would run until.
“We have expressly, through emails and through our wardcom channels brought this to the attention of ward councillor Carmen Siebrietz as well as Ms Christie,” he said.
Ms Siebrietz, the councillor for Ward 63, said only Kenilworth residents had been consulted as the event was being held in that ward. She said she had voiced her dissatisfaction as well as that of her constituents in Wynberg and Plumstead.
“Wynberg has a majority of seniors residing in the area, and the noise levels of the event last year were simply just not acceptable. But on the contrary, an event such as this, draws a huge crowd and does well in boosting the economy. However, should the event be approved, serious consideration should be given to the noise levels in order for the attendee and residents to be satisfied,” she said.
Lower Kenilworth Improvement District’s safety and security director Rory Moore said they had only received one complaint last year from a resident who was not aware of the festival.
“We are in favour of this year’s festival as Ultra have gone to great lengths regarding the sound management and the parking, which we witnessed last year in our hood to our satisfaction, and, of course, because of the employment it is creating,” he said.
Event organiser Showtime Management did not respond to media queries. To view the petition, visit https://chng.it/T9NxTqnc82