Frustration is building up among the residents of Voëlklip after the Overstrand Municipality sent out a notice regarding a proposed cellphone tower on Erf 669, 67 Seventh Street.
According to some of the residents the leasing out of the land to be used as a site for a cellular base station might pose a health risk to community members.
“We must stop this 25 m monster. Apart from how it will obstruct the beautiful views, there is a real health risk involved,” one resident wrote.
“This 25 m tower is not only going to disrupt the natural landscape, but also lower the value of our properties,” another reader said.
Other residents and business owners welcome the tower as they struggle with cellphone reception in the area. “We are having a lot of trouble with our WhatsApp’s and cellphone coverage and believe that the mobile tower will solve the problem,” a business owner said.
According to the applicant Gyro Properties (PTY) LTD on behalf of Telkom (SA) LTD the transmission apparatus that is going to be erected on Telkom (SA) LTD grounds is going to be positioned on the north-eastern corner of the property inside the compound area, and will not obstruct the existing utility services, landscaping and more. They also stated that a Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) was conducted on 19 July relating to the tower position. According to the VIA the proposed development is seen as moderately compatible with the receiving environment. “The intensity or the degree to which the proposed development will impact views and scenic or cultural resources will be moderate-low,” the assessment stated.
They further stated that telecommunication forms a critical part of our everyday lives and “what most people don’t realise, is that it also plays a vital role in times of crisis”.
The Overstrand Municipality’s IDP (2023-’24) also focuses on the continuous improvement of the telephone infrastructure especially on backup power for the remaining sites to ensure that the infrastructure remains active during load shedding.
The applicant also said that cellular infrastructure contributes to the economic growth within the municipal area. “The above on economic growth can be emphasised as the proposed transmission apparatus is situated within the business area of Voëlklip surrounded by business zones and residential zones, therefore showing the importance that coverage must be provided to these zones.”
Hermanus Times also received complaints from community members who were worried about their health. Some say that cellphone towers can increase the risk of cancer, cause cellular stress, and lead to other health issues.
“I read an article dated in 2021 stating that higher levels of celltower radiation were linked to an increased risk of all cancers.
This includes breast, cervix, lung, and oesophagus cancers,” one reader said.
In a recent article published by the National Cancer Institute of America in April this year, the evidence to date suggests that cellphone use and cellphone towers do not cause brain or other kinds of cancer in humans. But the Environmental Health Trust dismissed this finding and said in an article celltowers have wireless antennas that emit radio frequency (RF) non-ionising radiation. “When these antennas are close to our homes and schools, our daily exposure to RF radiation is increased. RF radiation is considered a new form of environmental pollution. In recent years, concern has increased about exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from cellphones and phone station antennae. An Egyptian study confirmed concerns that living nearby mobile phone base stations increased the risk for developing headaches, memory problems, dizziness, depression and sleep problems,” the article stated.. Overstrand Municipality sent out a notice regarding the cellphone tower on 18 October. Residents have till 22 November to email their comments, objections and representations to Alida Conradie at alida@overstrand.gov.za. Also note that the notice is avalable at the town and spatial planning department and on the municipal webpage at the following link: https://www.overstrand.gov.za/en/documents/town-planning/land-use-planning-applications.
