Removal of asbestos roofs remains the focal point in Free State 

While the matter of the R255 million failed asbestos project is in court, the Free State Department of Human Settlements remains determined to remove asbestos roofs in the province.

It is understood that in 2014, at least 36 000 houses with asbestos were identified for the R255 million project and it seems almost a decade later, the number of houses with asbestos remains the same. “The rollout plan will address the 36 000 asbestos roofs in various communities across the province and this will be a multi-year project,” says the new MEC of Human Settlements, Ketso Makume. Out of the 36 000 asbestos roofs, the department will remove 2 000 in various towns in the province during the financial year 2023/2024.

Detailing how the department will spend the budget for the current financial year, he explains that asbestos roofing is one of the critical issues that has negatively affected the image of the department.

“In an effort to rise above this challenge, the department has concluded the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and this is with a view to propelling ourselves to decisively address the matter,” he added.

Also read: Millions budgeted to eradicate asbestos roofing

https://www.ofm.co.za/article/centralsa/318066/millions-budgeted-to-eradicate-asbestos-roofing

During the reign of Makume’s predecessor, Mxolisi Dukwana, who is the newly appointed Provincial Premier, he had made mentioned that millions have been allocated to the removal of asbestos roofs in the province.

Outlining the 2022/2023 budget speech, he said that asbestos eradication will be done in due course. Months after he delivered his speech, his spokesperson, Sello Dithebe. told OFM News that R20 million has been set aside to deal with the project.

“70 units have been identified. Some will have decayed over time. So, the structural integrity will therefore inevitably be affected. This could mean that the entire structure must be demolished in order for a new one to be put in its place,” said Dithebe.

Circling back to the 2014 R255 million failed asbestos project, at least 18 suspects are facing a string of charges which includes fraud, corruption, and money laundering. The suspects include former Free State premier and former ANC Secretary-General (SG), Ace Magashule; Limpopo businessman, Edwin Sodi; former Mangaung Metro Mayor, Olly Mlamleli; former HOD of the Free State Department of Human Settlements, Nthimotse Mokhesi; the Director for Supply Chain Management at Human Settlements, Mahlomola John Matlakala; a businessman residing in Johannesburg, Sello Joseph Radebe; a Pretoria businessman, Abel Kgotso Manyeki; the former Director-General for the National Department of Human Settlements, Thabane Wiseman Zulu; and Albertus Venter, who occupied a role in the Free State Premier’s office.

ALSO READ: Asbestos pretrial postponed yet again

The Free State High Court judge on Friday, 20 January 2023 postponed the matter to 5 May 2023. This was done to allow for a decision by the Bloemfontein-based Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on a petition by Magashule and others, who have since approached the Appeal's Court. In 2022, Judge Soma Naidoo dismissed an application by Magashule, Zulu, and Sodi, amongst others, to have charges against them dropped.

Makume has recently revealed that the Hawks are investigating three separate investigations related to material irregularities. These include the G-Hostel in Matjhabeng, Welkom, Mangaung's Dark City and Silver City, and the Bohlokong Vogelfontein matter.

“These projects have been ongoing for many years and public funds were unlawfully spent without the projects being completed,” added Makume.

The department submitted four possible cases of corruption to the Hawks for investigation and prosecution. The investigations arose as a result of various alleged fraudulent activities detected, involving falsifications of qualifications, tampering with beneficiary information to acquire Breaking New Grounds (BNG) houses, and collusion with contractors and private individuals to defraud the department.

He stated that the department has carried out an anti-corruption activity in Mangaung Hillside View project and this was aimed at verifying the lawful occupancy of the 632 units.

“The preliminary report revealed that more than 18 houses are occupied by illegal occupants and these were assisted by Human Settlements officials. These officials are undergoing various disciplinary processes.”

He gave another assurance that these operations will be extended to most areas in the province in order to root out corruption wherever it rears its ugly head

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