Stellenbosch Municipal Housing Crisis: Asbestos Exposure and Unrepaired Damages Leave Residents at Risk

In the serene vineyard-surrounded town of Stellenbosch, a silent crisis looms within the walls of municipal housing where time-worn asbestos roofs are deteriorating, placing residents' health in jeopardy. Mary Ann Rhode, a resident of Rhode Street, Cloetesville in Stellenbosch, has become the face of a community grappling with the negligence of much-needed home repairs.

Photographs taken by Joseph Bracken graphically depict the sordid condition of Rhode's flat's roof, broken to the extent that the underlying asbestos is starkly exposed. Asbestos, a fibrous mineral once widely used in construction for its insulating and fire-retardant properties, is now known to cause lethal lung diseases, including mesothelioma, when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled.

Rhode's persistent attempts to alert the Stellenbosch municipality about the hazardous situation date back to February, yet her pleas have fallen on seemingly deaf ears. The municipality's initial assurances of swift action faded with time, and no contractor has shown up to mend the perilous roof.

The consequences for the Rhode family have been dire. The winter rains did not just bring natural beauty to the vineyards but also torrents of water into their flat. The inundation created a gaping hole in the ceiling, compromising its structural integrity. The water damage was so extensive that the family's television was destroyed, and they were forced to block further ingress with crude plastic patches – a desperate stop-gap measure.

Throughout the community, such disrepair is not an anomaly – it is the norm. Fellow residents Chris Januarie, William Hendrikse, and Magdalena Davids have waged their own battles against the municipality's inertia, combating broken geysers and crumbling bath infrastructure while waiting for the long-overdue intervention.

Stuart Grobelaar, the communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality, reluctantly admits that the roofs consist of asbestos, acknowledging the buildings' age but falling short on providing a tangible resolution. The original contractor assigned to the repairs withdrew due to financial constraints, and the municipality is now purportedly in the process of selecting a new contractor, promising that once secured, the hazardous asbestos roofing will be substituted with steel.

Yet, the palpable discontent from Raymond Douglas, a contractor specializing in asbestos roofing with Ark Waterproofing, reflects the urgency of the situation. Douglas argues that the municipality had two clear legal options to address the asbestos crisis: seal it or replace it completely. Nevertheless, the municipality’s response has been tepid at best.

This delayed response and exposure to asbestos are leaving families like the Rhodes vulnerable to severe health risks. The situation, emblematic of a broader systemic issue, is calling for immediate attention from municipal authorities to safeguard the well-being of its residents.

As the Stellenbosch community waits with bated breath for a resolution, the question remains – how many more winters will families face under leaking, unsafe roofs before promises are finally fulfilled?