Resident Neil Garrard wanted to know whether or not the tower had been erected legally and wrote a letter to Ward 93 councillor Annette Deppe.
“Firstly, is this legal and surely there should have been some public participation in the location of this tower?” he questioned in his correspondence with Deppe.
“Secondly, to make matters worse, the contractors were working on a Sunday afternoon to finish the so-called light tower, which to my knowledge, is also illegal. I assume they wanted to get finished before the residents were aware of the tower.”
According to the subcontractor of the project, who wished to remain anonymous, a service provider such as Telkom does not require public participation if the tower is less than 50m high – which is called a light tower and not a cellphone tower.
Garrard conducted some research and warned that those living close to cellphone antennas or towers health may be at risk.
“If you live within a quarter mile of a cellphone antenna or tower, you may be at risk of serious harm to your health,” reads www.EMF-Health.com, a site devoted to exposing hazards associated with electromagnetic frequencies from cellphone towers and other electronic sources.
The site claims that cancer rates more than tripled among people living within 400m of cellphone towers or antennas, Those within 100m were exposed to radiation at 100 times the normal levels.
An Israeli study found that the risk of cancer quadrupled among people living within 350m of a cellphone transmitter.
Other studies have found that levels of radiation emitted from cellphone towers can damage human cells and DNA, causing miscarriages, decreased immune function and other health problems.
However, Telkom’s group communication executive, Jacqui O’ Sullivan, confirmed that her company was constructing a mast and not a tower, as alleged by residents.
“Telkom is constructing a telecommunication mast on an existing Telkom infrastructure site at this location,” she said.
“Telkom has complied with all required processes, including the wayleave process, and has been granted permission by the local municipality to construct the mast at this location. The mast is less than 15m in height and does not require an environmental impact access study or civil aviation authority permission.”
Do you think these masts/towers are a health hazard? Share your thoughts on the Fourways Review Facebook page
Also read:
MTN to relocate Blandford tower as demanded by Lonehill residents
Eco-estates at war over cell mast
