The recent report that only 39% of the 39 municipal-owned monitoring stations in Gauteng are fully operational is deeply alarming.
Whilst the provincial Department of Environment has acknowledged these shortcomings, their admission alone does not resolve the catastrophic danger posed by the non-monitoring of air quality in our most populated and highly industrialised province. This renders the provisions of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 (NEMAQA) almost obsolete.
Gauteng is not only the economic heartbeat of South Africa, but also one of the most pollution-intensive regions, yet our residents are essentially exposed to hazardous air because the monitoring network has collapsed. This is unacceptable.
With large mine dumps still present, unattended and often un-rehabilitated, dust and heavy-metal contamination continue to emanate into surrounding communities. The steady stream of emissions from vehicles, industrial plants and uncontrolled sources further compounds respiratory, cardiovascular and other health issues for residents.
Without functioning monitoring stations, authorities cannot issue timely warnings, assess compliance with air quality standards or take urgent action when pollution spikes. Gauteng is sitting on a health-risk time-bomb, the longer this goes unchecked, the greater the harm to vulnerable communities, workers and children.
As South Africa’s most industrialised province, with its high population density and heavy urbanisation, the exposure to and risks associated with air pollution are greatly elevated in Gauteng. The failure to monitor means poor oversight of pollution sources and inadequate protection of communities, especially in historically disadvantaged areas.
The reality is that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) government seems to only respond when issues are publicly flagged, rather than systematically ensuring the basics are in place. Acknowledging a problem after it becomes public does nothing to prevent it. The monitoring network failure has existed for quite some time.
The public expects that government gets the fundamentals right, especially where air quality and public health are concerned.
ActionSA urges that:
- The Department must publish immediately a full breakdown of all monitoring stations in Gauteng: which are offline, partially operational, dates when they went offline, causes and remedial timelines.
- A credible and transparent plan must be put in place – with set deadlines – to restore full functionality of the network and ensure continual maintenance, calibration and data publication.
- Stronger oversight of mine dump sites, vehicle emissions, industrial point-sources and other known pollution risks. Government must hold polluters accountable and prioritise air-quality protection in Gauteng’s urban and peri-urban areas.
- Public notification systems must be developed so that communities can see live air-quality data, understand when risks are elevated and take protective measures accordingly.
In the absence of effective monitoring and enforcement, communities are left vulnerable. The Department’s acknowledgement of the problem is a step – but it is far from enough. For the people of Gauteng, the time for excuses is over. Government must act, swiftly and decisively. And it must act now.
ActionSA Alarmed by Critical Failures in Air Quality Monitoring In Gauteng
The recent report that only 39% of the 39 municipal-owned monitoring stations in Gauteng are fully operational is deeply alarming.
Whilst the provincial Department of Environment has acknowledged these shortcomings, their admission alone does not resolve the catastrophic danger posed by the non-monitoring of air quality in our most populated and highly industrialised province. This renders the provisions of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 (NEMAQA) almost obsolete.
Gauteng is not only the economic heartbeat of South Africa, but also one of the most pollution-intensive regions, yet our residents are essentially exposed to hazardous air because the monitoring network has collapsed. This is unacceptable.
With large mine dumps still present, unattended and often un-rehabilitated, dust and heavy-metal contamination continue to emanate into surrounding communities. The steady stream of emissions from vehicles, industrial plants and uncontrolled sources further compounds respiratory, cardiovascular and other health issues for residents.
Without functioning monitoring stations, authorities cannot issue timely warnings, assess compliance with air quality standards or take urgent action when pollution spikes. Gauteng is sitting on a health-risk time-bomb, the longer this goes unchecked, the greater the harm to vulnerable communities, workers and children.
As South Africa’s most industrialised province, with its high population density and heavy urbanisation, the exposure to and risks associated with air pollution are greatly elevated in Gauteng. The failure to monitor means poor oversight of pollution sources and inadequate protection of communities, especially in historically disadvantaged areas.
The reality is that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) government seems to only respond when issues are publicly flagged, rather than systematically ensuring the basics are in place. Acknowledging a problem after it becomes public does nothing to prevent it. The monitoring network failure has existed for quite some time.
The public expects that government gets the fundamentals right, especially where air quality and public health are concerned.
ActionSA urges that:
In the absence of effective monitoring and enforcement, communities are left vulnerable. The Department’s acknowledgement of the problem is a step – but it is far from enough. For the people of Gauteng, the time for excuses is over. Government must act, swiftly and decisively. And it must act now.