South Africa: Limpopo Asbestos Community Gets Health Screening After Resident's Death

What the report says

Residents of Mafefe village in Limpopo, South Africa, are being screened for asbestos-related illnesses after renewed concern over contamination from abandoned asbestos mines that shut more than three decades ago. The report, published by Health-e and distributed by AllAfrica, says the response follows the death of 48-year-old Mampuru Thobejane, whose family believes he developed a fatal lung condition linked to asbestos exposure.

According to the article, Thobejane’s father, local chief Setlamorago Thobejane, said his son was first thought to have tuberculosis before his breathing problems worsened and doctors found severe lung damage. Community members say asbestos-containing material still lies around the village and can be exposed by heavy rain, with some residents also worried that contaminated debris may wash into the Ngwaname River, which they use for water.

Local councillor Kutullo Mogaramedi said residents had raised the issue with provincial authorities for years, and that recent testing found contamination in soil and water. He also said a contractor was appointed earlier this year to remove remaining asbestos material, but work had not started.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced an integrated screening program for affected communities, using portable digital X-ray machines alongside tuberculosis screening, HIV testing, and basic checks such as blood pressure and diabetes. The ministry also said it is working with the mineral resources department on mine rehabilitation. More broadly, the article notes that a University of Limpopo study found similar asbestos risks in nearby rural areas, underscoring that the problem may extend beyond Mafefe.