The DA in Mpumalanga will urgently approach the MEC of CoGHSTA, Speedy Mashilo, to crack the whip on Thembisile Hani Local Municipality officials who delayed the process of identifying and repairing houses with asbestos roofs in Verena.
This comes after the DA learnt that the municipality allegedly failed to meet a Department of Human Settlements deadline of submitting a list of houses that have asbestos roofs. It is understood that the list is meant to give the department an indication of the houses that require repairs.
On September 23rd, a communique from the provincial government was directed to the municipal manager requesting the municipality to compile a list of the houses which contain asbestos roofs. The department asked the municipality to include ID numbers, stand numbers and the locations of the houses. The letter also indicated that the deadline for the submission was October 31st.
I held a public meeting with affected community members and the homeowners of the asbestos houses, along with Thembisile Hani DA Councillor, David Sibanyoni. In the meeting, homeowners stated that they were unaware of any scheduled rectification on their houses. They also confirmed that no municipal official has approached them to take down their details.
Following the meeting, the DA went on an oversight inspection to assess the conditions of these houses. We found that door handles were not installed, door structures are collapsing and the asbestos roof had cracks. We were informed by one of the residents that their child contracted asthma from constant exposure to asbestos.
One elderly homeowner explained that living in these houses is “a nightmare.” With the asbestos roof cracked, the elderly homeowner said they don’t know where to run to when it rains. He elaborated that the government has stripped them of their dignity. Furniture in these households has been ruined by rain.
The ANC administration is dragging its feet with the rectification process of these houses. The community of Verena had suffered for far too long at the hands of the ANC. Therefore, the DA will continue this fight, to ensure that the MEC acts on this issue and cracks the whip on the implicated officials.