Passersby told the Rosebank Killarney Gazette that workers had been spotted onsite on the morning of 3 August, and that workers had also been seen two weeks ago when they installed the structure.
Ward 73 councillor Marcelle Ravid explained that City Power gave out a contract following a tender process, for the installation of antennas in residential areas of Johannesburg. “A lot of people worry about the health impact the [antenna’s] radiation may have,” she said.
Marian Laserson, an Orange Grove-based architect, argues that there isn’t enough evidence to prove that cellphone masts are as dangerous as people make them out to be. “It isn’t beyond conception that those involved followed the correct procedure [in installing the antenna],” she said.
Ravid said, “When City Power started [installing cellphone antennas], no one was consulted. Not even the ward councillors.
“The whole issue here is reception – cellphone reception is a problem in many areas. City Power devised this initiative as a means of making money by improving an existing service.”
Ravid made it very clear that she will not sign off on any antennas until affected residents have been consulted and their concerns addressed. “I won’t sign if nobody is happy; I try to minimise the impact of these structures on my residents,” concluded Ravid.
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