The City of Tshwane has explained why nearly 1 000 people are still living in temporary asbestos housing units in Mamelodi, Pretoria. The city says that a contractor it had appointed to build permanent structures abandoned the project.

The affected people have appealed to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHR) to urgently intervene.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing, Aaron Maluleka says plans are under way to complete the project.

” There have been challenges with one of our contractors that moved out of sight, and council did the due diligence of following the money that was spent and not spent in that project. Therefore, councilors concluded that as part of the investigation of monies that were allocated to that project, but in going into the future, we are developing family units,” says Maluleka.

He says that together with the Gauteng government, they have allocated a budget to ensure that they respond to the crisis and challenges of the people of Mamedodi, especially hostel residents.

“It is our good intention that we should upgrade the living conditions. We cannot subject all people to such conditions and for them to be continuously neglected,” adds Maluleka.

The SAHR says it will look into the plight of 800 men who are living in temporary asbestos units in Mamelodi, Pretoria.

In 2009, the City of Tshwane and the Gauteng government moved the men to 300 units after the main old hostel they were living in was demolished. However, the men say 16 years later the promise to build them decent housing has not been fulfilled.

“These TRUs use have been built or have got some parts that are made of asbestos materials. We have registered a campaign for investigation and we will be undertaking an inspection,” says the SAHRC’s, Zamantungwa Mbeki