More home owners annoyed by MTN
ALBERTSKROON– MTN has installed numerous towers in the area and most residents say they were not informed about the projects as the law requires.
Numerous residents have been left annoyed following MTN’s cellular mast constructions near their homes.
“We chatted to other neighbours in the area and no one was aware that the mast was going to be erected, no one had received any form of notification,” said Albertskroon resident Bennie van der Berg.
A mast is being erected on 2nd Street in Albertskroon.
Resident Carmen Jack said, “My family and I stay on the property directly behind the tower, which is less than 300m from it, and I fear this is going to affect us negatively. Another problem I also have is that they say they have had a meeting. Why were we not informed of the meeting because we moved early in 2011?”
Mr A Rodrigues, who lives closest to the tower, said, “We did not receive any letters.”
According to Kay Cheytanov of Westdene, these Albertskroon residents are not the only ones who have been left annoyed.
“About three months ago, our pavements were dug up without any notice of what they were doing. At first we thought it was municipal instructions for new pipes or cables until the workers finally stopped right next to our house to connect cables to the church grounds next to our house,” said Cheytanov.
A tower has been erected inside the church tower at the Nederduits Gerefromeerde Kerk on Tenby Street South in Westdene.
According to Cheytanov, the tower is cleverly hidden at first sight. There are six cells in the tower.
“The tower is less than 20 metres away from my bedroom window,” he complained.
“We have contacted the Westdene Resident’s Association and according to them, MTN never engaged the community before they started the installation,” he added.
Like other residents, Cheytanov is worried about property value and has health concerns.
“I have lived here for 13 years and have sunk hundreds of thousands into renovating our little house… I fear for the health of my family,” Cheytanov concluded.
Nick Wessels of Linden has a similar problem.
“A MTN tower is being erected at the tennis courts of Hoërskool Linden on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 5th Street,” he said.
“It was said that it was approved and that it was going to be erected, but the residents of Linden and the homeowners of the area have not been informed about it. I am sure that the homeowners next to the tennis courts would not approve this,” said Wessels.
MTN had not responded to the matter at the time of going to print.
