Lethal asbestos fibres found near Zille’s offices

Picture: Warda Meyer

Picture: Warda Meyer

Published Aug 19, 2016

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Cape Town - A special meeting of the Western Cape legislature’s internal arrangement subcommittee has heard the first floor offices where Premier Helen Zille’s staff is housed is one of the potential risk areas were deadly blue asbestos fibres have been discovered.

The committee was briefed by senior officials from the Department of Public Works, who revealed the premier’s office suite was one of those where asbestos fibres were found.

This week the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP) said theChamber where parliamentary sittings are held, as well as other rooms onthe sixth floor, had already been sealed off.

The Provincial Parliament added they were managing the risk and subsequent repairs of exposed asbestos caused by water damage in an unused office in the Legislature Building.

The asbestos scare initially emerged almost two years ago and an investigation was commissioned by the Department of Transport and Public Works to identify potential risk areas.

DA chief whip, Mark Wiley said while he could not comment on the action taken by the premier’s office regarding the matter, the briefing revealed the asbestos was found in the panelling.

“I don’t now what actions have been taken on the first floor simply because it is a security area and that floor falls outside the precinct of parliament and my area of responsibilities.

“However, the precautionary measures taken by parliament includes that where asbestos fibres are found, those areas are being isolated,” Wiley added.

He said the parliamentary sitting would be held at 44 Wale Street next week.

ANC chief whip Pierre Uys welcomed the extraordinary emergency measures implemented to safeguard the provincial legislature from further exposure to the deadly blue asbestos contamination, but expressed concern esterday’s briefing left the ANC with more questions than answers.

“The legislature has on Tuesday sent some of its exposed employees for X-rays and today it was confirmed that more samples are taken and tests done,” Uys said.

According to Uys it is a sign the situation was serious.

Uys said it still had to be determined whether the presence of the asbestos could be contained or safely locked in, or whether it had to be removed at great expense.

He added the real problem was the asbestos used during the construction of the Provincial Building inthe 1940s.

“Since then some of it had been disturbed by water damage, contractors who broke or built around it, drilling into walls and even the many additions of cables, electronic infrastructure and increased electricity needs over the decades since,” Uys said.

Parliament’s James Retief said they were still waiting for a final report and action plan from the Department of Transport and Public Works.

They will issue further information next week.

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