‘Targeted’ over bid to get answers on MTN towers
GLENWOOD resident André van Rooyen’s campaign to get answers over the installation of MTN cellphone towers in his area landed him in hot water – he said his home was raided by the SAPS and his assets seized for allegedly damaging the towers.
MTN said that in the last few months more than five incidents of arson and malicious damage to the MTN radio equipment in the Glenwood area were recorded on their network. Vandalism, it said, was serious as it disrupted customers’ service.
The raid, however, had escalated Van Rooyen’s suspicions that something untoward happened in the installation of the towers, and that he was targeted for asking questions.
“I have five cell towers within a 500m radius of my house, none of which have planning permission. The complainant was an anonymous person from MTN. The allegation was that I was a suspect in vandalising MTN cell masts and they were looking for evidence. They removed my cellphone, computers, clothing, and various bottles of flammable liquids I keep for home repairs,” he said in a statement on the Electromagnetic Radiation Research Foundation of South Africa’s website.
He said the cell antennae were severely affecting his health, and that of his family. Several neighbours, he said, complained of symptoms such as sleepless nights, weight gain and aggressive behaviour.
“The curious thing is that, up until this raid, MTN and the city of eThekwini were denying these masts were cell masts. They have been calling them ‘camera poles’.”
An MTN spokesperson said: “We understand there are some concerns around the erection of masts in Durban. In conjunction with the eThekwini municipality, these poles are being utilised for security cameras and network coverage.”
Regarding the police investigation, MTN said: “Access to connectivity is a lifeline for many people, and as such MTN continuously upgrades and maintains its network to ensure that our services are readily available and customers can communicate and use the data network seamlessly.
“In the last few months, more than five instances of arson and malicious damage to the MTN radio equipment have been recorded on the MTN network in the Glenwood area of Durban,” it added.