MUNICIPALITY GETS PETITION AGAINST CELL PHONE MASTS
423 concerned residents sign document
APROPOSAL to erect cell towers at Dutch Reformed Church properties around Ndlambe a few months ago, gained considerable attention from the local populace and were just the latest in a series of complaints raised by residents over the past few years regarding the erection of cellphone masts and base stations.
In 2011 the late Anneliese Cowley, who ran the St Francis Health Centre, complained about potential health hazards to residents in Hards Street where a cellphone tower had been erected. Since that time, the Royal Port Alfred Golf Club abandoned its plans to erect a cell tower on its property, and cities around the world have been forced to consider health issues, restricting the placement of cell towers in populated areas.
Chairman of the Port Alfred Residents and Ratepayers Association (Parra) Dawie van Wyk initiated a silent protest on the grounds of the Dias Dutch Reformed Church in Port Alfred to urge the church to scrap its plans to erect cell towers on the premises.
At the time of writing, there is still no resolution to this problem, despite the church having initially given power of attorney to cell mast company Atlas Towers, having had an opportunity to withdraw from the deal due to a contractual technicality.
On Tuesday morning, Van Wyk handed over a petition to Ndlambe mayor Phindile Faxi to protest the erection of cell towers in residential areas and, further, to amend the Ndlambe Spatial Development Framework to preclude the erection of cellphone masts and base stations within or near residential areas.
A total of 423 residents signed the petition.
“There has been no consultation with the residents and ratepayers about a cellphone mast policy, making the erections of cellphone masts in Ndlambe problematic,” said Van Wyk.
On receipt of the document, Ndlambe speaker Vivian Maphaphu, acting in the place of municipal manager Rolly Dumezweni, said she would do whatever was necessary to address the concerns of the residents.
“We will get back to you with feedback once we have investigated the situation.”