Lester September, chairman of Forum of Cape Flats Civics
Thank you for your informative article (“Landspout rips through Hanover Park,” Athlone News, August 30).
Exposed asbestos roofing sheets are very dangerous and should be replaced if damaged. These communities should not be exposed to broken asbestos as this will cause them to be infected with asbestos fibres.
An asbestos health warning by the Minnesota Department of Health states: “If you breathe asbestos fibres, you may increase the risk of several serious diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos exposure may increase your risk for cancers of the digestive system, including colon cancer.”
As the Forum of Cape Flats Civics, we have been calling on the City since 2017 to replace asbestos roofs on all council and previously City-owned council housing with limestone roofing tiles/sheets that not only remove the risk of disease but also reverse climate change (by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air), while providing better insulation properties than traditional roofing.
Mayoral committee member for human settlements Carl Pophaim responds: The City is taking this matter very seriously. The safety of our tenants in community residential units is our priority. Corrective action is being taken and the asbestos roofing repairs programme is being expedited in Hanover Park and elsewhere.
I have prioritised the augmentation of existing capacity through certified contracted services to accelerate the repair and replacement of asbestos roofing for our residents.
In the current financial year, we have committed R6 million for repairs, maintenance and upgrades.
Communities must assist their local housing offices by reporting exposed asbestos roofing timeously as we undertake to complete this work as soon as possible.
We call on tenants and residents to please report asbestos roofing that poses a safety risk to residents so that City teams can be deployed to attend to the requests.
Due to the large volumes of rental stock, some 45 000 units, the City prioritises repairs based on service requests received, safety and if they are of an emergency nature.
To log a service request with the human settlements directorate’s call centre, phone 021 444 0333.