Envass News

Noise pollution can be defined as unwanted or excessive sound which can result in deleterious effects (ie. Causing harm or damage) on human life, wildlife, or environmental quality (Berg et al, 2020). Noise pollution only refers to noise generated by anthropogenic activity such as construction, industrial facilities, highways, railways, and airplanes.

Municipal Health Services have developed a Noise Management System based on its Noise Management Policy. As part of the Noise Management System, Council was required to define appropriate noise level standards for various land use/ activity situations in the City in order to control and ensure a suitable noise climate in its area of jurisdiction.

Each municipality is required to establish by-laws outlining determining noise level limitations for various sectors within the municipality. The City of Tshwane has been subdivided into appropriate noise zones in which these land-use related noise levels standards are required to be enforced. The Noise Management System currently used by the City of Tshwane forms part of the Geographical Information System, thereby making the system unique and is a first of its kind in the Republic of South Africa and as a result, other Metro Councils across South Africa have shown massive interest in the development of the system and how the system can be utilized to control noise pollution.