In the month of June, the Department of Environmental Affairs confirmed of households of Northern Cape being polluted with asbestos fibres, which triggers a disease called mesothelioma. Every year, about 10 new cases of it are reported.

The disease mesothelioma is lethal and doesn’t leave its victim till death. Unfortunately, its treatment is also not available. Doctor Deon Smith moved to region about 28 years ago and since then has been living under the fear of the disease.

Doctor Deon Smith said, “We see about 10 cases a year, new cases of mesothelioma. It has a very, very poor prognosis… There's no cure”. The disease catches hold of its poor victims by air.

The incidence of the disease is quite frequent in the regions of Northern Cape. A report by the Department of Environmental Affairs has found that about 5,000 households and 26 schools are polluted with the asbestos fibres.

The poor affected by the disease are not provided with any compensation by the authorities. Besides, the Asbestos Relief Trust is also not providing much care to the affected patients as they fail to qualify for any grant. It is hoped that in the coming times, aid would be provided to families suffering with mesothelioma.