Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has revealed a total of R220m has been set aside for the removal of asbestos roofs in government-built houses, The Herald notes asbestos roofing was banned by the government in 2008 because of the material’s links to cancer and chronic lung disease.

Kubayi tabled the department’s R35bn budget for 2023/ 2024 in Parliament this week.

She said asbestos was an ‘apartheid relic’ that still weighed heavily on the health of poor households.

‘We must eradicate asbestos as a priority,’ she said. 

‘A total budget of R220m has been allocated to the provincial human settlements development grant business plans in the Eastern Cape, Free State and KZN to implement 27 projects to remove asbestos roofs,’ Kubayi said.

Kubayi said another priority for the department was the eradication of mud houses, which has been allocated a budget of R1.7bn.

The Minister said since last year five provinces had implemented the programme to eradicate mud houses.

A total of 8 262 mud houses were demolished.

She said seven provinces planned to demolish 11 791 mud houses with this year’s budget.

Full report in The Herald