City clarifies party law

By: SHINOVENE IMMANUEL

THE City of Windhoek by-law requiring residents to get permission to host parties only applies to events attended by more than 100 people. The mayor of Windhoek, Elaine Trepper, said yesterday that the by-law was not applicable to small house parties.

The City Police last week started clamping down on social gatherings in the city in an effort to enforce the by-law which requires people to apply for permission if they plan to host a party. 

The by-law from the amended 2006 section 94 (1) of the Local Authorities Act of 1992 focuses on “Prohibition of Noise Nuisance”.

Trepper said the decision to enforce the by-law was misunderstood. 

City Police Senior Superintendent Gerry Shikesho said last week that 

 

 

 

the noise level  of a party was more of a determining factor than the number of people.

“I have not yet spoken to Shikesho since I was out of town but I’m going to mention it in today’s [yesterday] council meeting to make my point on that issue,” Trepper said yesterday.

But she added that this did not mean that party-goers can make excessive noise just because there are fewer than 100 of them. 

Shikesho said last week that noise pollution referred to any sound that disturbed the peace, safety or health of any person. He said a fine of N$1 000 would be issued to anybody who creates a “public nuisance” in the street, a public place or a residential area by shouting, quarrelling or fighting.

For permission to host a large party, the host must apply to the municipality’s  environmental department on the fifth floor of the municipal building.

Clarification could not be obtained from the municipality whether the by-law is applicable to open-air church gatherings and wakes at homes. 

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