Human Settlements
Question by:
Hon Carol Beerwinkel
Answered by:
Hon Bonginkosi Madikizela
Question Number:
2
Question Body:
- Whether his Department has a policy on the eradication of asbestos roofing and building materials; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether his Department has a plan to deal with all the houses in Railton, Swellendam that have no ceiling and bare asbestos roofing; if not, why not; if so, what are the timeframe to address this issue;
- whether his Department has any plans to assist the municipality to build toilets in the houses referred to in 2. above; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Answer Body:
- Yes. My department’s Provincial Minimum Norms and Standards, does provide for all materials used in the construction of all housing to be asbestos free. There is no national programme in place to replace roofs previously constructed with asbestos products.
- There is no national housing policy that allows for the upgrading of houses previously constructed without ceilings and bare asbestos roofing. It should be noted that the dwellings in question met with the National Norms and Standards applicable at the time of construction. The current Norms and Standards provides for ceilings and asbestos free roofs.
- No, there is no plan as the houses were constructed in terms of the Norms and Standards applicable at the time of construction. The provision of inside toilets would be tantamount to a double subsidy which is not in accordance with the objectives of the Housing Subsidy Scheme nor is it in line with the spirit with the Government’s Housing Assistance initiative.
Date:
Friday, September 12, 2014
