| There is a growing concern across South Africa regarding the seemingly uncontrolled and rapacious pace of cellular infrastructure development throughout the whole country. In the race to improve the value of their companies, cellular providers are in a contest against each other to put up the biggest number of cellular masts, in the shortest possible time.
In many cases, the cellular companies are either deliberately breaking the law, or disregarding procedures, in order to erect their masts quickly. Cell phone company MTN is the worst offender in this regard. Residents find themselves outnumbered and outgunned. Public participation processes are not performed correctly, the public are not adequately informed, and permissions are rushed through despite vehement public objection. Residents are therefore becoming more and more worried about the proliferation of an untried technology on their living spaces. Regulations for cell mast emissions were last published in 1998 and have not been updated since. Those regulations were based on short-term emissions up to a frequency of 300MHz (the same as a radio and a television set). Cell emissions, since the introduction of smart phones in 2012, have gone up to 2.4GHz (the same as a microwave oven) and the emissions are constant. There is world-wide consensus that more research is required into current cell mast emissions. Unfortunately for residents, the odds are stacked in the favour of the cellular companies. Municipalities and land-owners are dazzled by the prospect of income from renting out land for cellular masts. It takes determination, effort and funding for ordinary people to stand up against corporate bullies. Ordinary people, on their own, do not have the time, energy, expertise or resources to tackle the problem on their own. However, an organisation called the Anti Cell Mast Alliance has been formed to harness the energies of ordinary people who are concerned about the uncontrolled spread of cellular infrastructure. While no-one denies that cellular communication is a great economic driver, the sheer proliferation of unnecessary masts and antennae must raise red flags. The emissions from these masts and devices (like wifi, portable phones, baby monitors, cell phones, etc) creates a long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation (microwaves) that has not been fully tested. Anyone who wishes to join the movement that is urging caution in the roll-out of cellular technology can go onto the website https://nikimoore9.wixsite.com/anticellmastalliance. |