We conducted PRA activities with representatives of the asbestos committees of Ncweng and Sedibeng. The group consisted of five Sedibeng representatives, two Ncweng representatives, representatives from Lekalang, two translators and one facilitator from the team. The exercise involved drawing maps marking contaminated sites, along with the origins of the contamination. Three maps were drawn; they encompassed the areas around Ncweng, Sedibeng and Lekalang. The maps were drawn on a large sheet of paper; coloured paper shapes were also cut out and taped on. The facilitator then recopied the maps cleanly and left a copy for each village and association.
The goal of introducing PRA to village asbestos committees was to give them some research and analysis capacity, leaving them with more power and initiative to deal with asbestos contamination. However, these map-making exercises are just the first step in a process that we believe is worth continuing. The village representatives stressed that they were not sure that all the contaminated structures within the towns were highlighted. Also, many towns and villages in this area whose asbestos sites are unmapped. These issues must be addressed. After having completed these maps in as much detail as possible, the next step will be to prioritise the sites and to identify who is to do the clean up and how. Unfortunately, these people do not have the assets to do this work alone.
In order to sustain community-based research and use it for action, people must receive the proper training in PRA tools and techniques to finish the mapping and set priorities for cleanup. This can be accomplished simply through the work of a facilitator (who can be an individual linked to an organisation) to lead them step by step though each part of the study, giving them more and more responsibility.
After the research is completed and the priorities are set, these committees should be given assistance to prepare them to take action. They will need to strengthen their channels to responsible NGOs and government. Additionally, relatively modest donations would allow them to address problems that fall into their own possibilities of action.
We cannot stress enough the importance of participatory involvement in each step of the development process: the collection of information, the identification of pertinent organisations, and the implementation of interventions. The participatory aspect of these methodologies reflects the principles of democracy and justice. PRA and RRA create the opportunity for individuals to fulfil their responsibility to exercise their right to participate in the making of all decisions that affect their lives and the life of the community.
| Group Interviewed | Concerns | Concerns | Recommendations | Recommendations | |
| Village | Environmental | Health and Compensation | Environmental | Health and Compensation | |
| Ga Mopedi | It is deadly, in everyone's environment, and killing us. There are many uncovered and unnamed dumps. | It has created unemployment. There is no proper compensation for the sick and their relatives. It is creating orphans. The compensation system is unfair: Children < 18, R25 at GEFCO fee, fraud, longwait, nothing for those environmentaly exposedheart and l | The people of Ga Mopedi recommend the following: Experts to come and map unnamed and un rehabilitated dumps. Experts to do environmental monitoring. | The people of Ga Mopedi recommend the following: information about health care and compensation systems to be brought to Gemopedi. compensation system to be made fair (see concerns). government officials to come to them and do examinations. compensat | |
| Ncweng | There are uncovered dump above town elementary school. Asbestos is everywhere _ in yards, on road, in buildings. They suspect asbestos is in water and Department of Health has not responded appropriately to their concerns. There is a lack of informatio | There is no cure for ARDs. Clinics/ hospitals are hard to get to, offer poor care, and don’t get back to you with results from tests/ x-rays. Batlharos is discriminating. People are no longer taking their information to Batlharos. Asbestos is everywh | The people of Ncweng recommend the following: Rehabilitation (first of dumps, then school and other areas). Wind breaks near dumps, to stop fiber from spreading. Water purification. GEFCO/other mining companies to pay 95% of rehabilitation costs, and g | The people of Ncweng recommend the following: Better access to care and better quality care at hospitals and clinics. Lower interval for BMEs from 2 years to 6 months. Every one needs x-rays and examinations for free, even the babies who are still crawl | |
| Sedibeng | There are still many uncovered dumps. Bridge, school, and houses are built with asbestos containing materials. The wind blows asbestos into the village and yards. | People go for an x-ray, but hear nothing back. No one came to tell us of the dangers of asbestos. People who did not work in the mines are also getting sick. Some people went to Kuruman to get compensation, and had to pay, but were given nothing (fraud | The people of Sedibeng recommend the following: Cover the dumps correctly. Rebuild the bridge. Rebuild houses made of bricks containing asbestos. Rebuild the school. | The people of Sedibeng recommend the following: A clinic for treatment of ARDs. Increase compensation, and make it faster. | |
| Seven Miles | Children are affected by the pollution. There is no information given to the community concerning rehabilitation. Rehabilitation causes more secondary pollution. The community has no say in the rehabilitation process. | The answers to complaints to government officials by the townspeople are unsatisfactory. There is a lot of secondary pollution due to rain and wind. Former miners must pay R25 for proof of employment. People go for x-rays and are diagnosed with ARD | The people of Seven Miles recommend the following: More information concerning rehabilitation should be given to the town, which should have a say in the rehabilitation process. | The people of Seven Miles recommend the following: Individuals over 18 should be able to receive compensation for their parents' deaths. Individuals widowed or orphaned for over two years should be able to receive compensation. There needs to be impro | |
| White Ex-mine workers in Kuruman | Many people are sick with incurable, painful and deadly ARDs. Compensation is not enough to help with medical bills and it is unfair. Asbestos are workers sometimes poorly treated in compensation system. Companies failed to inform them of known healt | The Ex-mine workers in Kuruman recommend the following: More information on how environmental rehabilitation is done. | The Ex-mine workers in Kuruman recommend the following: companies pay medical bills. better compensation which at least would cover medical bills. more rational compensation _ based on degree of sickness, not when someone worked or how much they made. |