Wireless broadband provider iBurst is at the end of its tether with several Fourways residents who claim its tower made them ill.
iBurst CEO Jannie van Zyl says, despite repeated requests, none of the complaining residents have yet provided their names, addresses, or proof of the ailments they claim were caused by the tower.
The company's tower at the centre of the row was constructed in August after iBurst followed all the legal requirements, says Van Zyl. The tower is located at a private cemetery, Fourways Memorial, in the suburb of Craigavon, and was activated on 12 August.
He says every objection to the tower was resolved, and permission was granted for the tower.
Subsequently, however, he read in the press that residents were complaining they were ill, and had ailments such as skin rashes, headaches, vomiting, sleep disorders, fatigue, upset stomachs, tinnitus and other health conditions.
No proof
But, despite his efforts, he says residents are not coming to the table, and are not providing any sort of proof. Van Zyl says radiation tests showed the tower to be 10 000 times below international guidelines, and it was emitting next to no radiation.
TechCentral reports that the furious residents are now off to court in a bid to have the tower removed. They claim it was not properly constructed and procedures were not followed.
But Van Zyl denies this. He says residents were informed through posters and flyers that the tower would go up. In addition, those living close to the cemetery were sent registered letters.
He argues that some of the residents who are complaining that they were never informed are on the company's list as people who initially objected to the construction of the tower.
In the meantime, the tower was turned off on 16 November to determine whether the illnesses go away during a two-week period.
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