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01/11/2005.
The South African Cabinet approved the publication of new asbestos regulations for public comment for a period of 30 days. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, declared that "For too many years communities across South Africa have lived with the dangers of asbestos and asbestos products - we are now taking the final steps to ensure that this health hazard never again threatens our people and our communities".
Since the National Asbestos Summit in 1998, Government has taken firm action to address the health problems relating to asbestos - especially in Limpopo, the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and the North West, said the Minister. These actions have ranged from the closure of all asbestos mines, to the finalisation of codes to guide the demolition and disposal of materials containing asbestos, and even specifications for vehicle brakes to be asbestos-free. There have also been detailed studies commissioned into secondary asbestos pollution and the likely socio-economic impacts of phasing out asbestos.
In spite of this progress, asbestos continues to pose a very real threat, said the Minister. We have seen increases over the past four years in cases of asbestosis and other medical conditions associated with exposure, in persons who were never associated with asbestos mines. There are also very few ways for the public to safely handle these products - especially in poorer communities in which less expensive asbestos products are used, instead of safer alternatives.
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