By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The portfolio committee on human settlements has “expressed serious concern” over the hazardous state of housing in the North West Province, after learning that about 1 000 RDP homes in the Moretele Local Municipality are still roofed with asbestos.
“The health risks are too high for the asbestos not to be completely eradicated. The department must present a detailed medium-term plan to remove these hazardous roofs,” committee chairperson Nocks Seabi said in a statement.
Asbestos roofing in older South African housing stock has long been flagged by health-experts for its link to respiratory illnesses and potential mesothelioma (cancer). Within the housing-delivery framework of the country, remediation of asbestos has been identified as a complex and expensive challenge.
The committee requested a verification process “and stressed that the removal of asbestos must remain a top priority due to the associated health risks,” Seabi added.
He made
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