“Mpumalanga named as one of the worst places in the world for air pollution – and it’s starting to hit Joburg and Pretoria”

….statement made strong headlines on Business Tech and Moneyweb online news platform…

Mpumalanga, the eastern- nestled province of the Republic of South Africa made headlines recently citing the ongoing quagmire state of air pollution presently persists existing which and engulfing the province throughout-amid spreading extensively.

This comes after an environmental-orientated report was published and promulgated by Greenpeace international: an environmental-driven organization which focuses on eco-friendly tolerance and relevance focusing upon conservation methods and climate sustainability solutions through advice offerings and advocacy, have brought forward the systematic natural plight exposed to of natural atmosphere being negatively toxically fuliginous.

The also report indicated that whilst the country practiced environmental sustainability measures put to place as decided and agreed upon by interest national and global centre area stage by key interest -stakeholders on path to reduce and eliminate; gain the achievement of a climate-friendly environment, it was found that air pollution hit optimal “toll”, exacerbated at fast pace in Mpumalanga than to those compared to/with.

Such a prognosis was seconded by an extensive research and analysis par investigation conducted sub various experts auspices ranging from environmental activists, interests groups, health officers represented intra community-town and city municipality, organisation institutions to name a few…

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), an environment peril and health hazardous pollutant element forming PM2.5 and ozone, was discovered suggested being main catalyst for air pollution form and dissemination.

Witbank (Emalahleni) town was the dirtiest. Other areas include Secunda, Middleburg, and Standerton, to name a few...

 Major contributory factors were coal:

·         Coal exploration, mining;

·         Coal transport;

·         Coal power stations;

·         Non-degradable plastics and;

·         Degrading electronic elements.

Such obtained from satellite data was compared anti six states within the continent revealed that Mpumalanga superseded as hotspot.

Greenpeace Africa campaign manager Melita Steele, noted: “Such obtained from satellite data was compared anti six states within the continent revealed that Mpumalanga superseded as hotspot”.

A recent study formulated recorded that air pollution is a silent killer, a disease having affected socio-economic standards. Most community residents residing nearby and intra coal fired and power stations, factories and mills serving location around core periphery areas “moaned”, stressing-out upon living standards and conditions poised to be confined within. According to hospitals and community clinics presiding shared acknowledgement that gravious health infections leading to respiratory affections: asthmatic attacks, tuberculosis, lung cancer etc are mainly common infections society were diagnosed with presented, reported in cases.

Inhabitants also acknowledged that mining and transport operations have damaged core infrastructure: contaminated water resources; roads and households- potholes and cracks caused during blasts concomitant dirty walls- external & internally.

However, many lacked presence understanding that human beings (inhabitant) [residents] also contributed to the scourge most especially during winter seasons by smog presence within atmosphere due to fire use inorder to keep warm and during protest occasion when toxic catalysts are burnt.

Heavy smog presence during early peak times; morning and evening rush hours are visibly spoted on daily basis especially during winter seasons.

A major decline in tourism activity has been recorded resulting a Local Economic Development (LED) downgrade over the past 2012-2018 projected years period.

Major steps in efforts of combating; introducing effective solutions were implemented and welcomed. These include provincial interventions from The Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs &Land Distribution (Dardlea), Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs (Cogta), and Social Development produced an inter-ministerial task team.

These are the respective resolutions adopted:                  

Ø  Introduce and Implement innovative approaches to lessen air pollution;

Ø  Develop and align key policy elements and processes as adoptable solutions;

Ø  Establish environmental campaigns, initiatives and open-days to disseminate climate change and global warming risks;

Ø  Extend co-relations to local government’s inorder to combat environmental mismanagement and error conservation acts;

Ø  Create an eco-friendly and environmental sustainability system and conducive area.

Ø  Develop sanction and rewarding framework for bridging corporate, individuals and communities.

The government of day has outlined proactive steps as result to introduce environmental tolerance and also encouraged the acceleration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) amid such action course.

Legal setting and constituency binding constituting the legal merits of active policy and major consultation during policy decision and making are of note addressed aswel.

Throughout occasions, Mpumalanga has indeed been acknowledged and declared as South Africa’s most pollutant province as drastic inclination of highly contained coal reserves usage persists accounting hiking coal use and coal orientated investments tolls for many years.  However, the private sector, particularly banking sector introduced risk barriers from the continuation of fossil fuel funding in motive to eliminate the investment as due diligence directive effort practice by the World Bank Group.   

The main drive was considered as priority, providing assistance to stimulate the envisaged “green economy “approach and initiative objective whereby all stakes are introduced and thus allowed to partake upon an optimal role ensuring greater adversity to green sustainable living as enshrined sub the National Development Plan (NDP) and enhancement of the South African Constitution (Act 24[Environment Protection Act] 108 of 1996).

The local government has also begun introducing key measures in ensuring that local citizens partake crucial and lucrative. Aligned in partnership with the health facilities, a uniquely designated environmental division to raise health awareness and issue environmental concerns communicable to humans (respiratory) diseases had been established to specifically tech and disseminate airborne affection communication education.

There are also several municipalities which undertook consultative initiative: programs, projects and plans such as environmental campaigns-which paid special attention to the effects of natural resources by coal, plastic, glass, aluminium, and acidic content materials.

Most pollution also came at form of illegal and unauthorised/ regulated dumping of waste-later burnt, this causing toxic atmospheric particulars.

This resulted the district municipalities from Ehlanzeni, Gert-Sibande and Nkangala to pressure-on local municipalities to with a strategic set plan on service delivery and also develop a socio-governance community communication approach known as public service awards designated towards various municipalities: award good green deeds. Thus has been accounted as best promotion and upliftment to service delivery as municipalities have practiced and developed positive attitudes towards natural and environmental causes to suite and beget best standards and ethical codes elementary deeds.

To date, a budget to have been allocated to cater and adjust to the needs and standards of natural and environmental causes.

Inter municipality forums and other platforms have also been established and existing central spheres to eliminate and combat the rampant pollution scourges have been undertaken to control and regulate environmental effects within Mpumalanga.