DA Calls for Urgent Action on Asbestos Roofs in Kopanong Municipality

DA has called for urgent action on asbestos roofs in Kopanong Municipality. The Democratic Alliance plans to push for a comprehensive municipal audit, immediate engagement with provincial and national governments for funding, and prioritisation of affected households in housing upgrades. In a press release on 22 August 2025, DA Councillor Jacques van Rensburg highlighted the health risks of asbestos exposure, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, urging the Kopanong Municipality to remove toxic roofing that remains a legacy of past policies. The party believes every citizen deserves a safe environment and will hold the municipality accountable until decisive steps are taken.

DA’s Demands for Asbestos Removal in Kopanong

The DA’s call comes amid growing concerns over asbestos roofing in residential homes across Kopanong Municipality in the Free State. Councillor Jacques van Rensburg stated that the party will take urgent steps to ensure its removal, emphasising the dangers of exposure that increase risks of serious illnesses like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory problems.

The DA urges the Kopanong Municipality to adopt a proactive approach by:

• Advocating for the complete removal of asbestos roofing in all municipal housing stock.
• Engaging with provincial and national government to secure funding for safe, modern roofing replacements.
• Prioritising affected households in any future housing upgrade initiatives.
• Conducting a comprehensive audit to identify and quantify the extent of asbestos roofing within the municipality.
  “It is unacceptable that in 2025, residents are still exposed to life-threatening materials in their own homes,” van Rensburg said. The DA believes that the health of communities cannot wait and will continue to champion this cause.
• Councillor Kabelo Moreeng echoed these sentiments in a Sesotho soundbite, stressing the need for swift action to protect families. The party provided English and Afrikaans soundbites from van Rensburg, underscoring the urgency across languages.

Health Risks and Legacy of Asbestos in South Africa

Asbestos roofing, a remnant of apartheid-era housing policies, poses severe health threats due to its carcinogenic fibres. Exposure can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, with symptoms often appearing decades later. In South Africa, where asbestos was widely used in low-cost housing until banned in 2008, thousands of homes still have these roofs, particularly in rural and township areas.
The Free State, including Kopanong Municipality, has been hard-hit. A 2021 report on public health and the Free State asbestos audit highlighted the dangers, noting that more than R200 million from a R230 million contract fee was misspent in a controversial audit project. This scandal led to corruption charges against figures like former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule and businessman Edwin Sodi, involving a R255 million tender for asbestos roof assessments that yielded little actual removal.

Despite the ban, removal efforts have been slow. In 2023, the Department of Human Settlements allocated R220 million to eradicate asbestos roofs in three provinces, including Free State, but progress remains limited. A 2024 initiative in Free State to replace roofs with corrugated iron sheets has started, but the province needs nearly R4 billion to fully address the issue, according to MEC Saki Mokoena.
In Kopanong, many households remain under these toxic roofs, exacerbating respiratory illnesses in communities already facing poverty and limited healthcare. The DA’s call aligns with national concerns, as the 2025-26 Annual Performance Plan for Human Settlements mentions eradicating asbestos roofs in seven provinces, yet funding constraints hinder full implementation.

Government Efforts and Challenges in Asbestos Eradication

The South African government has recognised the problem, with programs to phase out asbestos. In Free State, removal processes are underway, but scandals like the 2014 asbestos roof removal project, which led to NPA seizing properties in 2025, have eroded trust. The project, meant to audit and remove roofs, resulted in fraud charges against 18 people. Nationally, the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) for municipalities like Kopanong and Mangaung mention asbestos removal, but execution is slow due to budget limits. The 2021/2022 IDP for Kopanong, for instance, noted the need but lacked specific timelines.

Challenges include high costs—estimated at R4 billion for Free State alone—and logistical issues in rural areas. The DA’s demand for an audit and funding engagement seeks to accelerate this, prioritising health over delays.

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