Scaffolding spotted on Newsel Road in Umdloti last week left many residents with questions about its purpose.

With conspiracy theories and environmental concerns abounding in equal quantities, the Courier visited the location to set the record straight.

The building was being done on the property of Andre Potgieter, an Umdloti resident for 21 years.

“I have heard rumours flying around about what is being built, and the truth is – nothing.

“The scaffolding is for an upgrade to a cellphone tower that has been on this property since I moved here in 2010,” he said.

The original tower was built by Vodacom to provide 3G service to the Umdloti village, and has gone all but unnoticed since it was finished.

“I had always seen it from my property, but I just assumed that it was an unused telephone pole,” said neighbour, James Coffin-Grey.

The tower has been upgraded to provide 4G coverage, after many complaints were registered about the lack of quality internet access in the area.

“I have heard everything from the tower spreading coronavirus, to me earning millions for having it on my property. I can assure you that neither of these are true,” said Potgieter.

Vodacom do pay a fee to private property owners for the use of their land, but Potgieter was unwilling to discuss amounts because of an ongoing contract with the company.

The upgrade does add extra width to the top of the tower, and may still be an eyesore for neighbours.

“I understand the need for it, but we are trying to find a way to see if it can be lowered or disguised somehow, because it does impair my sea view and property value as a result,” said Coffin-Grey.

There was no forum for community input on the issue, and when asked about the lack of communication to neighbours, Potgieter said, “I truthfully did not think that it would be an issue. The tower has been here for so long that I thought everyone knew what it was.”

The final application for approval from Vodacom to the municipality is still ongoing, but the superficial upgrades have already been completed.

“As long as the tower height has not changed, the service provider has the right to ‘update’ infrastructure on the mast and service and maintain the mast,” said regional co-ordinator of the land use management office, Marius Taljaard.

Ward 58 councillor Geoff Pullan said: “The fact that it is on a private property makes it very difficult to get any results for frustrated residents in these cases, particularly when there have been many complaints about poor coverage.”