Despite the metro’s tribunal verdict to the halt operation of the controversial cellular mast in Reier Road, Atlasville, operations still continue it seems.
This comes after technicians were allegedly spotted by residents working on the illegal mast.
In February this year, the Atlasville cellphone mast tribunal verdict was handed down.
Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson, said: “The application submitted for the construction and operation of a 15m-high lamp pole cellular mast and base station 1054 was denied by the Ekurhuleni Municipal Planning Tribunal.
“The reasons for the decline were that the proposed cellular mast and base station is not in line with the general purpose of the Ekurhuleni Town Planning Scheme, 2014, as stipulated in the Town Planning and Townships Ordinance, 15 of 1986.
“Clause 19 states that the general purpose of a town planning scheme shall be the coordinated and harmonious development of the area to which it relates in such a way as will most effectively tend to promote the health, safety, good order, amenity, convenience and general welfare of such an area, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of such development.”
Gadebe said it was held the application would not promote the health, safety and general welfare of the surrounding area.
“The application is not in line with the objectives of Clause 13.5 of the Ekurhuleni Town Planning Scheme, 2014, in that only rooftop or flagpole (no lamp pole) cellular masts may be considered and erected on ‘Residential 1’ zoned properties.
“The position of the cellular mast and base station is undesirable, especially in relation to a functional shopping centre, which is situated directly across the road.”
“Public participation only commenced after the cellular mast and base station had already been constructed.”
According to a resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, the technicians installed a communication disc halfway up the mast which apparently communicates with another mast in the area.
“It appears Telkom has zero intention of following the tribunal ruling and has blatantly breached municipal laws,” said the resident.
- Site visit
The Advertiser visited the site on April 30 and also spoke to Reier Road property owner Willie Erasmus, who indicated that he wasn’t notified about the tribunal verdict because no one from the Ekurhuleni metro had been to his house.
“The only time that I engaged with them was when there was a tribunal committee before the verdict was handed down,” he said.
According to Erasmus, his property wasn’t the initial site selected, but a shopping centre across from his house was.
“So because I think the owners of the shopping centre rejected Telkom, they came to me and I agreed because the cellphone mast doesn’t bother me.”
Erasmus said he receives about R6 500 every month from Telkom.
- Ward councillor objects
According to ward councillor Andre du Plessis, the mast should be taken down.
“I will escalate this to the city manager because it seems the legal department are dragging their feet. The legal department are the ones that must ensure that the structure gets demolished.
“Plus, the newly installed mechanisms are in violation of the town planning scheme, Ekurhuleni policies and by-laws,” du Plessis said.
The mast was installed and erected in mid-October 2017.
Some of the concerns the residents have about the mast is that it poses health risks.
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