Besides the visual impact on the environment and uncertainty with regards to actual health effects from the use of cellphones and cellphone towers, there is no transparency with regards to the placement of existing as well as the positions of new applications for towers and building mounted cell phone infrastructure despite numerous requests. Certainly the placement on public properties and schools should also be public knowledge, since it also has an effect on the value of property in the surrounding areas?
Insufficient notice to neighbours and affected parties which is governed by par. 7 (b) of the National Building Regulation and Building Standards Act, 1977 in terms of which any structure which disfigures an area, is unsightly, objectionable and adversely affected
Stellenbosch needs a policy on Telecoms Towers similar to Cape Town:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9deG_h3QR0BNlJHUlp4US1GVjg
Also to date no detailed information (including their location) about existing towers in operation or in planning have been provided by the Municipality of Stellenbosch.
GSM cellphone towers by design emit microwave spectrum frequencies over 35km to 70km (the latter is usually applied in rural areas). When using Small Cells this range is much less, but are usually only deployed in support of “distributed antenna” and “in-building” deployments and complement towers.
We have no doubt that the electromagnetic field would be very powerful up to 700m or further around such a tower.
Currently little or no research can conclusively confirm or deny the existence of health risks associated with electromagnetic waves, like cellphone towers, power lines and even high pressure water supply pipes.
Long term studies on the effects on human health initially focussed on cancer, but their is more concern these days for the altering effect EMF has on DNA, electrical systems like our brain and our decision making abilities, fertility and child development (especially the effects on the electrical systems of the body, like the brain, nervous system and many systems that have elements of electrical function).
The lack of studies about the impact on child development, although many cellphone towers are constructed on school premises where children spend about 6 hours per day for years during critical stages of their development, can potentially become a major issue for us all.
The studies that do indicate harm, are indicating serious enough effects on DNA, fertility and our minds that we should take care until we know for sure.
Even if conclusive scientific information is not yet available, because of deliberate disinformation or because we simply have not studied the effects for long enough or found the most relevant influences we still need to be cautious until our National Department of Health, ICNIRP, the WHO or the studies in progress at the European Union or others provide conclusive answers.
Please beware of the legal claims (with mass action law suits and resulting costs) against companies and municipalities / officials that approve installations that can potentially skyrocket once conclusive results become available that do prove conclusively that serious harm is caused. You have received many letters from people who were concerned when you took those decisions and chose to ignore their concerns.
We therefore urge Stellenbosch Municipality to take a much more cautious approach to the placement of cellphone towers (especially when approving towers at schools and others), implement a policy for cellphone towers their aesthetic pollution on our town and all strong electromagnetic fields in general until we know.