The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) based in Cape Town, South Africa was established in October 2009 by eight civil society organisations (CSOs) in South Africa?s environmental and environmental justice sector to provide legal and related support to environmental CSOs and communities.

Like with the inhabitants of mining communities, the Centre?s vision is a South Africa where every person?s Constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, and to have the environment protected for future generations, is fully realised.

They hold several workshops in communities like these to raise awareness about the community?s environmental rights. One of such workshops in the Highvelds enabled citizens to voice their concerns as well as to be taught their rights. 

Most people complained about cracked homes, dusty homes and respiratory problems resulting from mine blasts. The were glad to know their environmental rights. The next step is for citizens to take action and ensure their rights are not being violated. 

The air quality in the area is reportedly highly polluted and dangerous for human health and the government is looking at ways of addressing this. Also, companies that operate within the polluted regions are tasked to have waste management licences and measures to reduce air pollution and hopefully, this would be adhered to as concerns are increasingly being raised.