The foundations for a new cellphone mast have already been laid in Umtata Park,Gallo Manor.
Residents are furious after Telkom and ATC South African Wireless Infrastructure began construction on a tower mast in Umtata Park, Gallo Manor.
According to the Umtata Park Telkom Mast Objectors Committee, Telkom and ATC are currently in the process of erecting an 18-metre-high cellular mast and base station, surrounded by 2.4m high palisade fencing on Erf 58.
Trevor Perkel, a member of the objectors’ committee has made it clear that he believes the cellular mast is being constructed in an unsuitable area. “The mast is totally inappropriate in a public open space such as Umtata Park. There are three schools within a 300-metre radius, as well as numerous residential complexes within 30 metres of the mast. We are not opposed to erecting a new mast, but it is patently unsuitable to erect it in Umtata Park,” said Perkel.
Marcus Goldring, also a member of the objectors’ committee, alleged that the correct steps were not followed prior to the commencement of construction work. “No notice of an environmental process for the basic assessment for the construction of a telecommunications mast in terms of the National Environmental Management Act was placed in Umtata Park so that members of the community could participate in a public forum and object if need be.”
Trevor Perkel, Marcus Golding and Ronnie Meyer of the Umtata Park Telkom Mast Objectors Committee stand at the boundary fence of the construction site in Umtata Park, Gallo Manor.
Goldring also claimed that Umtata Park was donated by the Gallo family to the Sandton Town Council with the express condition in the transfer deed that the land was to be retained exclusively as a park.
According to a letter sent to the builders involved in the construction of the mast by the chief director for Sustainable Use of Environment, Loyiso Mkwana, the construction of the mast is not listed in terms of Listing Notice 1, 2 and 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, published under the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 and, therefore, does not legally require environmental authorisation from the department.
Yavische Naidu, legal manager for ATC South Africa responded to a letter of complaint by the objectors’ committee. “It would seem that the primary concern is that the due process was not followed. In this regard, ATC confirms that all appropriate leases, consents and permits have been obtained and that to any extent that Act was required to send notifications to adjoining land owners and ward councillors, we confirm that this too was duly attended to,” said Naidu.
Members of the Umtata Park Telkom Mast Objectors Committee stand on the construction site of a new cellphone mast.
Ward 109 councillor Werner Smit has requested that construction be halted and an investigation be made into the approval process. “I received a call from a concerned resident when the contractor started to dig the foundations. Upon investigation, I found that the plans were approved, but also found a flaw in the community participation process and the fact that there was only outgoing correspondence to a now-retired councillor from a ward in the Northcliff area. I have asked the City to start investigating the process through which these plans were approved. Construction has been halted and I am awaiting the outcome of the investigation,” said Smit.
