Date: 07/10/2003
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Rooi: Lunch of asbestos awareness campaign
ADDRESS BY THE MEC FOR AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM, ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, DAWID ROOI, AT THE ASBESTOS AWARENESS LAUNCH, Gamopedi Sport Grounds, 7 October 2003
The Programme Directors
Honourable MEC Molewa and MEC Peters
Honourable Kgosi Toto and Mayors
Representatives from DEAT
Distinguished Guests
Comrades
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am honoured to welcome you all to this launch that marks a different phase of our fight against asbestos. We gathered here to acknowledge the good of the government-backed mobilisation campaign that was marked by a gallant and tireless fight against apartheid South Africa's biggest profiteers - the multinational companies.
Through your believe in justice and the restoration of dignity, we were able to achieve victory in a case that will stand out as a "hallmark of modern day's environmental justice". That landmark judgement will strengthen the cases of many developing nations who will be seeking justice against multinational companies that destroyed lives by ignoring the health of workers and communities. The September 2000 Global Asbestos Congress held in the Brazilian city of Osasco that granted South Africa centre stage, highlighted the global importance of our court victory.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The House of Lords verdict of 20 July 2000 will forever mirror the rallying cry of thousands of lifeless asbestos victims whose rights were violated by the "profit drunk" exploiters. Exploiters hailing from one of the world's most enlightened societies, the United Kingdom.
That decisive victory laid the foundation for a winnable case in Gencor and Gefco matter that had better elements of sanity, in speedily acknowledging that the people of Danielskuil and Kuruman are part of the global human family.
I grant my special salutations to the team at the Kuruman Moffat Mission Trust and the concerned lawyers for the amount of work they have undertaken. You are remarkable!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Apartheid South Africa's legacy of disease and death has subjected us to an environmental health catastrophe that is within your breathing space. Asbestos-related diseases are progressive and irreversible, hence it should be understood that nothing could compensate for the loss of life.
The question is: What has the current government done to remedy the situation in this area? The rehabilitation of ownerless asbestos mines by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) is currently taking place at White Bank Mine not very far from where we are. This mine is the largest asbestos mine in the country with a rehabilitation budget of R62 million whilst the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism provided an additional R500 000. These allocations are for this financial year only. The same amount of work was undertaken elsewhere around the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Many of you have suffered the loss of fertile agricultural land through forced removals and yet you still suffer from environmental degradation of barren land. It is for this reason that we acknowledge that a mammoth task lies ahead in pinpointing and applying effective measures for rehabilitation albeit the millions that have been spend by government on mine dumps.
Our most serious problem is off-site pollution, a "time bomb" that cannot be ignored. As government we are faced with the challenge to co-ordinate plans, studies, activities and budgets to determine the magnitude of secondary asbestos in the country.
This road show signifies our efforts in reducing secondary pollution that poses as a major factor of future asbestos related diseases.
Government has undertaken immediate steps in observing your constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment that should bear sustainable development. It is for this reason that our future off-site pollution projects would be aimed at the following:
* Reducing secondary pollution on the environment
* Raising awareness on asbestos related diseases and treatment available
* General advocacy on the dangers of asbestos.
The Northern Cape Government's Provincial Asbestos Forum will be able to unleash initiatives once a qualitative and quantitative study had been released on the affected areas.
In the main, our approach is to ensure that the rehabilitation process is transparent because it should go hand in hand with community empowerment.
In Prieska we were able to remove asbestos roofing from houses and toilet sheets. This project must be extended to areas where practically possible.
Our Environment Month activities of last year also had a specific emphasis on asbestos awareness. Our campaigns will continue as we seek a collaborative partnership with the relevant departments.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, I would like to assure you that this launch indicates that there is no fragmentation in dealing with asbestos problems. This cohesion tells that your well-being is of paramount importance to government.
Let us support government in dealing with this burden of disease and death. Let us pray for better days to come about, rising with prospects of prosperity in our urge to escape poverty and ill health.
Ke a leboga!
Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment and Conservation, Northern Cape Provincial Government
7 October 2003
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Rooi: Lunch of asbestos awareness campaign
ADDRESS BY THE MEC FOR AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM, ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, DAWID ROOI, AT THE ASBESTOS AWARENESS LAUNCH, Gamopedi Sport Grounds, 7 October 2003
The Programme Directors
Honourable MEC Molewa and MEC Peters
Honourable Kgosi Toto and Mayors
Representatives from DEAT
Distinguished Guests
Comrades
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am honoured to welcome you all to this launch that marks a different phase of our fight against asbestos. We gathered here to acknowledge the good of the government-backed mobilisation campaign that was marked by a gallant and tireless fight against apartheid South Africa's biggest profiteers - the multinational companies.
Through your believe in justice and the restoration of dignity, we were able to achieve victory in a case that will stand out as a "hallmark of modern day's environmental justice". That landmark judgement will strengthen the cases of many developing nations who will be seeking justice against multinational companies that destroyed lives by ignoring the health of workers and communities. The September 2000 Global Asbestos Congress held in the Brazilian city of Osasco that granted South Africa centre stage, highlighted the global importance of our court victory.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The House of Lords verdict of 20 July 2000 will forever mirror the rallying cry of thousands of lifeless asbestos victims whose rights were violated by the "profit drunk" exploiters. Exploiters hailing from one of the world's most enlightened societies, the United Kingdom.
That decisive victory laid the foundation for a winnable case in Gencor and Gefco matter that had better elements of sanity, in speedily acknowledging that the people of Danielskuil and Kuruman are part of the global human family.
I grant my special salutations to the team at the Kuruman Moffat Mission Trust and the concerned lawyers for the amount of work they have undertaken. You are remarkable!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Apartheid South Africa's legacy of disease and death has subjected us to an environmental health catastrophe that is within your breathing space. Asbestos-related diseases are progressive and irreversible, hence it should be understood that nothing could compensate for the loss of life.
The question is: What has the current government done to remedy the situation in this area? The rehabilitation of ownerless asbestos mines by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) is currently taking place at White Bank Mine not very far from where we are. This mine is the largest asbestos mine in the country with a rehabilitation budget of R62 million whilst the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism provided an additional R500 000. These allocations are for this financial year only. The same amount of work was undertaken elsewhere around the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Many of you have suffered the loss of fertile agricultural land through forced removals and yet you still suffer from environmental degradation of barren land. It is for this reason that we acknowledge that a mammoth task lies ahead in pinpointing and applying effective measures for rehabilitation albeit the millions that have been spend by government on mine dumps.
Our most serious problem is off-site pollution, a "time bomb" that cannot be ignored. As government we are faced with the challenge to co-ordinate plans, studies, activities and budgets to determine the magnitude of secondary asbestos in the country.
This road show signifies our efforts in reducing secondary pollution that poses as a major factor of future asbestos related diseases.
Government has undertaken immediate steps in observing your constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment that should bear sustainable development. It is for this reason that our future off-site pollution projects would be aimed at the following:
* Reducing secondary pollution on the environment
* Raising awareness on asbestos related diseases and treatment available
* General advocacy on the dangers of asbestos.
The Northern Cape Government's Provincial Asbestos Forum will be able to unleash initiatives once a qualitative and quantitative study had been released on the affected areas.
In the main, our approach is to ensure that the rehabilitation process is transparent because it should go hand in hand with community empowerment.
In Prieska we were able to remove asbestos roofing from houses and toilet sheets. This project must be extended to areas where practically possible.
Our Environment Month activities of last year also had a specific emphasis on asbestos awareness. Our campaigns will continue as we seek a collaborative partnership with the relevant departments.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, I would like to assure you that this launch indicates that there is no fragmentation in dealing with asbestos problems. This cohesion tells that your well-being is of paramount importance to government.
Let us support government in dealing with this burden of disease and death. Let us pray for better days to come about, rising with prospects of prosperity in our urge to escape poverty and ill health.
Ke a leboga!
Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment and Conservation, Northern Cape Provincial Government
7 October 2003
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