A City of Cape Town proposal to lease a portion of land in a Durbanville residential area for a 12 metre free-standing cell mast has drawn flak from residents.
The land considered for the installation is on erf 2856 in Durbanville – on the corner of Claasen and Pelican Streets in Nerina.
According to the City, the public has until 14 July to raise and submit all their concerns, comments or objections.
The site is bordered by several homes of which the residents are objecting to the installation as it will cause an eyesore and alleged health hazards.
Sandra Delport, a resident who will be affected by the installation as the portion of land is right next to her property, says the cell tower will be erected in front of their kitchen window.
“This will be impeding our view of the neighbourhood and basically will be an eyesore. The cell mast will influence our property value and make it more difficult to get the property leased or sold. Research indicates that over 90% of home buyers and renters are less interested in properties near cell towers and would pay less for a property in close vicinity to cellular antennas. Documentation of a price drop up to 20% is found,” Delport told TygerBurger.
She says that the 5G from the cell tower causes air pollution.
“The cell mast will be in a park where children play, and care givers take young toddlers to enjoy the outside,” she says.
“The report concludes that EMR from a cell tower should be treated as a pollutant, especially as it is a potential cause for the decline of animal populations and deterioration of health of plants and humans living near radiation sources, such as phone masts. EMR is responsible not only for the declining number of birds but is also linked with an unusual phenomenon in bees, bees begin to vanish from their hives,” Delport adds.
Safety concerns
She says safety is also of concern as the cell tower will give criminals an opportunity to view and access their property.
“This will be an invasion of our privacy. Due to the cell mast being installed in an area of a community park there is a risk of kids or teenagers see it as a challenge and use it as a climbing obstacle. There has been analysis from hundreds of studies suggesting that there are biological effects, and that cell mast must not be installed in a neighbourhood. Evidence for a health risk by RF on humans living around cell mast, from radio sickness and cancer,” she says
“We would also like to know who exactly the people are behind the name of the company as they do not seem to be concerned about the area that the municipality is offering them for a kick back. More information should be provided regarding the guarantee of 100% safety of RFW on humans and the environment including birds and bee’s,” she says.
Another resident stepped forward; Larry Eichstadt who shared the various emails sent to the ward councillor Theresa Uys.
In these emails, Eichstadt says the placement of such a facility right next to private property is a money-making scheme by the City.
“The City makes money while the resident loses significant investment value. If Nerina residents had a need for improved telecommunications, they would be professional enough to make their own enquiries and not have such ridiculous projects being imposed on the community by the City and a developer who at this stage still remain ‘faceless’. Once again, the City is showing disrespect to the residents of Nerina by even considering such a project from the outset. Trust this matter will receive the attention it deserves, and the project is terminated with immediate effect,” he says.
The way forward
TygerBurger approached the City for comment who confirmed they have received an application/proposal for a minor free standing cell mast at 12m tall with a lease extent of 6m².
“The lease application is still within the public participation phase (PPP) of our process and residents now have the opportunity, until 14 July to raise and submit all their concerns, comments or objections. Once the PPP has closed, the comments submitted will be collated and sent to the applicant for their response, as per our standard process,” the City says.
“Once the applicant’s responses have been received, all information will be considered, and a decision will then be made whether to recommend or refuse the lease application to the Delegated Authority.”
- Residents can submit their comment via www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/Issues-open-for-public-comment/proposed-lease-of-various-city-owned-properties
