Residents’ fury at cell towers
Not consulted about where they were to be built
OUTRAGE over the erecting of cellphone towers this week led to an urgent motion being tabled by ward councillors during a full sitting of the ethekwini Municipality.
Residents have raised health concerns over the towers.
The issue, which has provoked anger in various communities around Durban including Umhlanga, Morningside, Glenwood, Chatsworth and Merebank, will be debated in a council meeting.
A large number of residents have voiced their disapproval of the towers near their homes.
Residents blamed the municipality for allowing the cellphone network providers to erect the towers in their neighbourhoods without consulting them.
During the council meeting on Thursday, the DA’S Morningside ward councillor, Martin Meyer, and Durban North councillor Shaun Riley, tabled the motion on the matter. Martin said they wanted the municipality to disclose all the documents pertaining to this “secret deal’ to be released immediately, and for an investigation to be launched.
“It is in the interest of the residents and of our city that this matter be brought into the open. The city must stop talking transparency and start showing it.
“We will also meet with the political leadership structures to explore further action if the papers are not released,” he said.
In Chatsworth, Woodhurst residents have approached the high court to have a tower dismantled. They claimed it was erected without following due process.
In Umhlanga, a tower was erected close to the Driftwood Estate late last year.
The residents said they were never informed about the development, but rather misled by the city.
They have formed a Facebook group and maintained that they will get everyone who resides within a 400-metre radius of the masts to sign a petition and take legal action.
They allege that living next to the tower could be a health hazard, especially forchildren.
A homeowner in Driftwood Estate, Justine Horner, said the city knew that residents would not allow the tower to be erected in their neighbourhood, so they decided not to consult them before putting them up.
“When they contracted the tower, there was no signage or consultation to inform us, as owners, as they were going to build this tower close to our property.
“Eventually, when a neighbour approached the contractors, she was told it was CCTV camera surveillance towers to keep the neighbourhood safe, as part of the development.
“We have invested so much in this area and we pay levies; I think we deserve to be consulted about this. It will devalue our property,” she said.
Another resident, Yvette Roberts, who said a tower had been erected just metres from her home, said the towers were affecting her badly. “Sometimes I hear a loud noise, like a washing machine, which causes a headache. I tried to report this to the municipality, yet nothing has been done,” said Roberts.
Garth Hall was more concerned about the health implications. “It can cause huge damage over a period of time. As the signal gets stronger, it has more negative impact on humans.
“It is very disappointing to have these towers in a developed area without consultation.
“We deserve to know; this can affect a lot of people living in this area,” said Hall.
It is believed most of the towers belong to MTN.
City Watch approached the company for comment, but MTN’S national property manager, Gerard Naidoo, referred all the queries back to the city.
The city said the allegations were serious and were being investigated by the relevant units.