Free State allocates R20 m. to finally launch asbestos roofing eradication

Show Voice Options It’s the first step in a decade-old initiative to remove hazardous asbestos roofing from thousands of homes, despite the project’s fraught history and connections to ongoing corruption investigations. While tabling the 2025 budget vote in the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein, Human Settlements MEC Teboho Mokoena emphasised the urgency of the matter. “The removal of asbestos roofing has remained one of the most urgent and challenging priorities in pursuit of dignity, health, and the safety of our communities.” Asbestos has long been banned due to its health risks, including cancer and lung disease. In the Free State, approximately 33,000 housing units are still roofed with asbestos materials. Despite the identification of over 36,000 homes for asbestos remediation in 2014, there has been little to no progress, leaving many residents exposed to ongoing health hazards.