Cell Towers Sage Continues
The George Herald has been trying to obtain information from the three major cell companies with regard to the number and location of cell masts in George and surrounds.
Vodacom confirmed that they had 20 base stations in George, but did not reveal where these were situated. We are in the process of communicating with MTN and Cell C to obtain their statistics, as well as with Vodacom for details with regard to the location of their masts.
Responses from the cell companies with specific reference to the three masts in Bergsig NG Church are also been awaited as residents in the area allege that they had never received notification beforehand of the erection of these structures.
Environmental legislation requires notification via registered mail of affected parties living / working within a 100 metre radius of a proposed cell mast, as well as notification again, once a record of decision is issued by Environmental Affairs.
According to Yakeen Atwaru, spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Affairs in George, legislation required a cell company to notify the Department every six months of all its cell masts. He said this does not always happen, but monitoring in this regard by his Department would be rolled out soon. "Failure by a company to meet this requirement, may lead to drastic measures such as masts being dismantled," said Atwaru.
* An official of Environmental Affairs confirmed that Vodacom had registered an application for a mast in Heatherlands.
The environmental consultants still had to hand in their environmental impact assessment report, which had to include the results of a public participation process, he said.
by ALIDA DE BEER
