No to the tower in Mt Moreland!

The colourful, nature-loving Mount Morelanders took to the streets with vuvuzelas, placards and djembe drums recently in protest of a 35 metre high alien invader.

The proposed installation of a cellular mast on one of the properties in the middle of the nature conservation village has the left the residents enraged.

Also read: The swallows return to Mount Moreland

Leading the protest was Danie Rademeyer, who lives next door to the property that is the proposed site for the massive tower.

“We have been neighbours with the Govenders for 12 years, but they refused to talk about this before they signed the contract allowing this mast on their property. Now that the community is upset about what they have agreed to, they want to back out, but they apparently have to pay R50 000 to get out of the contract,” said Danie Rademeyer.

“We are not marching against any residents, we are marching against the location of the tower. You cannot erect a cellular mast in a conservation area. Also, the municipality’s approval letter stated that the purpose of the cellular mast is to strengthen signal, but is that necessary?

“There are many locations outside Mount Moreland where the mast could be placed, but it seems it is easier to find needy people in a community and entice them with money, binding them with a contract which they cannot afford to get out of.”

He said the community had not been consulted prior to the application notice put up on the gate of the property that will house the mast.

“We were never consulted in person or asked for commentary. If we lived in a democratic environment, 95% of the community would vote no to the tower.”

The Govenders did not want to comment.

The company who put up the notice on the gate, Holku and Associates’s director Mark Holing said they are ensuring that all the correct steps are followed with the application of the mast.

“I lived in Mt Moreland for about four years. When we heard about the mast, we stepped in and made sure everything was done properly. This was going to be done with or without us, but because I know the community and the fears they have about the mast, I wanted to know that no corners would be cut. So far, all procedures have been done correctly,” said Holing.

“The department of health and the SA Civil Aviation Authority have given the mast the go ahead. Notices were placed in newspapers and sent out according to the legal requirements. We know there is resistance to this mast, but we are open to the community’s questions.”

The company that owns the mast, Atlas Tower, did not want to comment.

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