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The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has received dozens of  reports of vandalism of communications infrastructure across the country, noting that as the riots rage on, 113 towers have been damaged, and many community radio stations have been looted.

“Such wanton destruction of the broadcasting infrastructure and facilities represents a direct attack on the constitutional right of individuals and communities to access news and information that is accurate, unbiased and up-to-date about the current crisis,” ICASA said in a statement.

US-based American Tower Corporation (ATC) and SBA Communications’ (SBA) structures are potential targets for arsonists and ICASA Chairman Keabetswe Modimoeng warned that “Any disruption of communication services could prove disastrous and result in increased mortality as emergency calls may be directly impacted.”

He said he expects the number of towers that have been vandalized to increase as the country tries to stop the growing number of looters and arsonists.

“We call on the communities to assist in guarding and protecting this critical infrastructure and to exercise the highest levels of patriotism in this regard,” said Modimoeng.

South Africa has approximately 26,000 towers, with ATC owning about 2,300 towers, according to its website.

SBA has approximately 1,200 sites, the majority of which were acquired in October 2019, with the purchase of 900 sites from Atlas Tower South Africa that had a substantial backlog of new builds.

“It is catastrophic sprees of unrest such as the one ongoing that developing countries struggle to ever recover from, with damaged infrastructure simply left as is without funds or manpower available for repairs,” ICASA said.

The country’s three major towercos are Vodacom, Gyro Group and MTN Group.

MTN is seeking to sell its towers and the company has received requests from 20 towercos and investment firms to provide a leaseback offer. MTN said it is looking to conclude the sale during the third quarter of 2021.

It is not known if the current unrest in the country will lower the estimated $500 to $700 million for the company’s towers, understood to total about 6,000.

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Author Penny Fourie, Journalist

July 8, 2020

Following legal advice, the municipality will now reopen the application process after it was agreed that due process had not been followed.

Dolphin Coast residents opposed to the installation of two 5G cellphone masts have welcomed the announcement by KwaDukuza municipality that the public participation process would be reopened.

Concerned residents challenged the initial application by American Tower South Africa (ATC), claiming the public participation process had been flawed.

The notice to grant permission to ATC to place the 5G (5th generation) masts were advertised during level 5 lockdown, firstly on March 4 in a KwaDukuza newspaper that is not distributed in Ballito, and in a public notice placed on the boundary of 38 Karyn Street, Ballito.

Residents said they had not seen the notice as the lockdown regulations did not permit them to leave their homes, except for essentials.

Read more at: https://northcoastcourier.co.za/155607/5g-masts-ballito-and-zimbali-residents-to-get-another-say/

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA  (WESTERN CAPE DIVISION, CAPE TOWN)  Case No.: 596/2019

APPLICANTS

CORNELIUS CONRADIE SMITH N.O. , HENRY GERHARD MCLACHLAN N.O. , TEN BELLS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

RESPONDENTS

ATC SOUTH AFRICA WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE (PTY) LTD, CITY OF CAPE TOWN, PHISANTEKRAAL PLAAS (PTY) LTD

Cell Tower – Review – Erasmus J Order- FINAL AS GRANTED

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