Civil society groups are tackling air pollution in the Vaal Triangle- one of three most polluted areas in South Africa.
The Vaal Triangle consists of Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg, Sebokeng, and Evaton.
This week, Life After Coal (LAC), in partnership with the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), held a Vaal Air Quality and Health Day at the Zamdela Community Hall.
Themed ‘Collaborating to Improve Air Quality and Health Outcomes in the Vaal” the event planned to raise awareness and build community advocacy about the severe health effects of air pollution in the area.
The cause of pollution is the burning of fossil fuels in the production of energy and fuel, steel production and mining. As a result, the Vaal was declared a national priority area under Section 18(1) of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (Act No. 39 of 2004).
The Centre for Environmental Rights said in a statement, pollution in the region contributes to numerous health problems, particularly respiratory diseases and other long-term medical conditions.
To support this, a recent study commissioned by Life After Coal, the University of KwaZulu Natal and University of Pretoria, found that the Department of Health policies fail to address air pollution-related diseases, but instead focus on a general Primary Health Care approach to treatment.
Speaking about the campaign, Mafoko Phomane, Senior Environmental Health Campaigner at GroundWork, said “the Vaal Air Quality and Health Day aims to empower affected communities by equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary for active participation in environmental governance and health governance. This initiative is a crucial step in the fight against air pollution and advocates for clean air and a sustainable future beyond fossil fuels.”
Life After Coal is a coalition campaign formed by Earthlife Africa, groundWork, and the Centre for Environmental Rights.
Picture: EJ Atlas