Mast’s questionable go-ahead

Fast-paced construction on the mast has angered residents within a 50- to 300-m radius, fuelling health and property value concerns.

Eli and Tracey Hermetz showed Midrand Reporter documents approving the mast and questioned if due process had been followed. They stated, “We don’t know of anyone who received the registered letters that the town planner claims were sent out.”

According to the couple, the town planner said the homeowners were not notified because they are not ‘immediate’ neighbours – yet one of them lives directly opposite the mast.

A medical doctor and homeowner, Dr Kabs Makaba lives less than 100m away from the mast. He is concerned that residents were denied the chance to comment or object to the mast.

He said, “We never got notices, the mast should never have been approved.” He pointed out that studies have been done to prove that electromagnetic waves can cause some types of

cancers, and research was done to support this.

Midrand Reporter has seen an e-mail from the town planner which said only registered letters were sufficient notices. When asked for comment, the town planner, Cara Terblanche, said she could not disclose any information on the issue as her client, who was aware of the complaints, had not given consent.

A lawyer who is advising residents, Denis Warren-Tangney, told the paper that registered letters alone are insufficient, especially when the post office delivery system had been inconsistent.

“Community consultation, notices in the media and proof that registered letters were delivered are key in such matters,” he said.

Beaulah Hamblin, the owner of the property leased out to an unconfirmed company which is constructing the cellular mast, referred all queries to the City of Joburg, stating, “The city approved the project, they should answer all questions.”

No one has produced a registered letter so far, but there is a list of residents who allegedly received registered letters which was e-mailed by the town planners to the previous Ward 112 councillor Leverne Young. When asked about knowledge of the cell mast Young said, “I did not receive notification about that tower, except for a tower in Vorna Valley.”

A week after the query was made, the City is yet to respond to questions about health concerns and whether due process was followed prior to the mast’s approval. A representative of the City, Virgil James said a response will be given once all the information has been gathered.

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