Getting new roofs is bringing unhappiness for many Mamelodi residents.
They complain that construction workers are slow and are damaging valuables. Sometimes residents have to sleep in dusty, unfinished houses for more than two days in a row. Some windows were also broken.
This is a project by the provincial government to replace all asbestos roofs with new zink corrugated ones for health reasons. It got underway last year.
The Pitso family in Mamelodi East said the contractors had damaged the roof of their carport last year and had not kept a promise to fix the problem.
Agness Pitso said: “We have launched a complaint to the contractor that their workers have damages the carport roof and had promised to come and fix the roof. They also have not finished plastering the inside walls of the house.”
The family said the contractors took several days to finish roofing their house.
“All we want is the contractor to fix the carport roof. We even complaint to councillor Rabasotho Masupha with no help until today,” said Pitso.
Masupha confirmed that a complaint from the family had been received, saying the matter would be attended to as soon as possible.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Blessing Manale said the roof-replacement project was inevitable.
“South Africa prohibits the use, processing or manufacturing of any asbestos or asbestos-containing products in 2008 due to the health hazards of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres,” he said.
“All affected households, including those with rusted corrugated iron, will benefit from the project. The residents must appreciate the fact that removal of damaged asbestos roofs is a delicate matter and should not be rushed.”
Manale said care had to be taken to ensure material was handled and disposed of correctly.
“Attempting to rush the process may lead to poor workmanship and threats of asbestos fibres becoming airborne. We appeal to residents to exercise patience.”
