People who object to tower in their neighbourhood are NIMBYs

NIMBY (Not in my Backyard) is a label applied to people who complain about poor cellphone reception but object to a mast next to their home. This is different from the situation where people who use cellphones sparingly or are forced to use them as a consequence of their jobs and society are bullied into having a mast erected right on their doorstep.

The issue is that in this particular location – the Strawberry Lane area in Constantia, Cape Town – there is no suitable or safe place to install masts. Both of the original sites identified at the Bible College in Eskol Rd and on the Schofield’s property in Dalham Rd were unacceptably close to neighbouring homes. This is a residential area with children, elderly and sick people – not an industrial zone.

For years this rural area without street lights had less cellphone reception which over time made it sought after by those trying to escape the escalating wireless smog in the City. For those people there are increasingly fewer places to escape to, whereas those calling for ever-more cellphone reception have ample options.

This also brings up the issue of choice. Those wanting boosters on their roofs and WiFi in their homes have the option of that, but people living next to masts have no choice.