Human Settlement Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says the problem of asbestos roofs in the Free State will soon be resolved. She says they will focus on solutions to problems and not what has happened in the past.
Kubayi is on visit to the province where she is evaluating progress in housing delivery.
The minister has added that her department is aware of defects in newly-built houses.
Cracked walls, leaking roofs and ceilings that are caving in are just some of the challenges occupants of the new houses in Hillside Extension in Mangaung experience.
Residents, including military veterans, expressed discontent with the condition of their houses less than a year after occupying them.
One of the military veterans, Parks Ditsebe, says, “Foundation from the start is not proper. The soil, which these houses are built on, are not proper. There was supposed to have been a foundation, which is thick to a level whereby you can build a house, unlike this one. You cannot build a house, and within three months it just got cracks.”
Other residents echoed the same sentiments.
“These people are not attending our matters, because we are full of leakage inside the houses, our toilets do not function properly. Lot of things are happening inside the house,” complains one of residents.
“I’m not happy about the cracks that are in the house. The other things … the taps, you just use it two to three months, it doesn’t work again.”
Plans to fast-track the replacement of asbestos roofs in the Free State:
The Department of Human Settlement says it has consulted with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) that is responsible to certify houses for occupation.
Minister Kubayi says the backlog in the allocation of houses to military veterans will also be addressed.
Residents of Mangaung, who still stay in houses with asbestos roofing, say their health is in danger.
The removal of asbestos roofs has been at the centre of corruption allegations.
Suspended ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule and ten other accused as well as five companies face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
The charges relate to the R255 million asbestos roof eradication contract of 2014.
Minister Kubayi says her department will not get involved with the ongoing court case.
She says her job is to be able to find solution to the problem at hand, and that they have agreed on the process of the allocation of resources.
“I want to say to the residents of the Free State, we’ve not forgotten them. The fact that there’s a court case – we know that they have nothing to do with it – our duty is to them. Because the constitution guarantees them a proper shelter as part of their constitutional rights. So, we’ll make sure that we are able to address it. I don’t want to say how much we’ll need right now. What we’ve taken as a decision is that those people deserve our service. Law enforcement will deal with the issues of law enforcement.”
