University of Pretoria gets interdict against noisy Hatfield bar

The University of Pretoria has obtained an interdict against the Springbok Bar in Hatfield to protect students at House Asterhof from "disturbing, loud and irritating" noise.

In terms of an order issued by Acting Judge Hennie de Vos, the bar's management must take whatever steps necessary to limit the loud noise emanating from its premises, and stick to the city's town planning scheme.

The hostel is about 30 metres from the entertainment venue on the corner of Prospect and Hilda streets. Students had complained that they could neither study nor sleep due to the loud music which continued into the early hours.

The university has been trying for the past three years to put an end to the distraction, which started when the premises was called Africa Pub and Grill. The latter closed in February 2007 and became first the Bunker, and then the Springbok Bar.

The head at Asterhof, Werner Badenhorst, said in a statement before court that the Springbok Bar was a nuisance to the 150 women living in Asterhof. Students from Vergeet My Nie, Madelief and Magrietjie residences had also complained about the cacophony.

Badenhorst said that in April 2007, 155 residents from Asterhof had signed a petition complaining about the music and disturbance. Soon afterwards their legal advisor contacted the Tshwane Metro Council in an attempt to solve the problem.

A visit by the local authority resulted in an improvement for two weeks, but Badenhorst said that when the council was asked to intervene again, it had only written a letter to the pub's management.

Students complained that the noise was excessive even when there were only five customers in the pub. Live music nights were particularly harrowing as were karaoke nights, when patrons "exercise their vocal cords by mimicking rock stars".

Tuks had wanted to approach the court earlier, but this was delayed when Asterhof was revamped.

But the problem persisted when students returned.

The university then decided to approach to court as they could no longer handle the "disturbing, loud and irritating" noise. Springbok Bar did not oppose the interdict.

Pretoria News

Posted at 10:27AM Feb 24, 2010 by Editor in Residential  |  Comments[1]