Ballito residents cry out in fear of health risks over 5G mobile masts

Concerned residents are planning to launch a petition to try to halt plans to put up the 5G masts metres from their homes, a pre-primary school and a clinic saying there was lack of consultation.

The new masts are planed for 38 Karyn Street, Ballito and Club Drive in Zimbali Coastal Resort.

Residents have also expressed fear for the potential dangers associated with radiation.

Despite the push-back from residents, American Tower South Africa (ATC), which made the application to erect the cellphone tower said the application for the construction and operation of the telecommunication mast and base station was made in accordance with the municipal planning requirement set out in KDM’s Spatial Planning and Land Use Management by-law.

ATC spokesperson Theresa Stewart said the application had been advertised in the Express Times newspaper on March 4 and registered letters were posted to all stakeholders identified by KDM.

Stewart said a public notice was placed on the boundary of 38 Karyn Street notifying residents of their intention to develop the property.

Stewart did not respond to queries that the Express Times is a Stanger-based publication and is not circulated in Ballito.

Residents also questioned the process being done during the hard lockdown level 5.

According to a report ATC South Africa scouts out potential cell tower sites and markets them to cellphone companies.

“The proposed development could potentially be used by mobile network operators to deploy 5G,” said Stewart.

The proposed masts are set to be 25 to 35m high, which is almost ten stories high.

Vanessa (48) of Leonora Drive said the potential effect on her family’s health was her main concern

“I have a young child and, given the current reports about 5G and the implications on children’s health, I do not feel at all reassured that this is safe for any of us living here, full stop.

“There are already a number of international health concerns about masts in close proximity to homes and schools. Add to that the eyesore it will become and its effect on property prices and you have all the ingredients for an ill conceived proposal that affects many people’s lives,” she said.

While 5G is the newest form of mobile Internet technology and has been pegged as a faster, more reliable network, the effects of non-ionising radiation on the human body is unknown and 5G trials have been blocked in numerous countries around the globe.

Lisa (44) is opposing the mast in her neighbourhood said: “They are rolling out something which is untested.”

After conducting her own research, she said she was horrified at the apparent negative health effects associated with wireless radiation.

“They say the 5G radio frequencies do not travel as far as 4G radio frequencies would and therefore require more antennas. Those who live near the mast or these antennas will get big bursts of radio frequency radiation.”

Another resident, Craig, said: “The launch of 5G will be similar to turning on your microwave, opening its door, and leaving it on for the rest of your life. These towers are not only dangerous, they are lethal. They should not be installing 5G until it is proven safe to human and environmental health.”

Craig said ATC offered to pay him a rental to have the mast in his property, which he declined.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 5G technology is at an early stage of deployment and the extent of any change in exposure to radio frequency fields is still under investigation.

Ward 6 councillor Tammy Colley said the public participation process on the masts would need to take place again due to the national lockdown.

“As with anything, the public has a right to object. I have requested that the advert does get published this time around in a local paper that is distributed in the affected areas.”