CoE celebrates progress in air quality, FF Plus says it’s nonsense
At a global conference hosted on home ground, the City of Ekurhuleni revealed the impressive progress it’s making in environmental health.
The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) held its 15th Annual World Environmental Health Day conference at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre on September 25 and 26.
Among the achievements shared at the conference, which focuses on effective policies and best practices in environmental health, were:
• Digitalisation of industrial emissions reporting, improving transparency and operational efficiency.
• Surpassing the 84% target for food premises to hold Certificates of Acceptability.
• Deployment of 160 rodent control assistants to combat vector-borne diseases and protect public health.
According to CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, Ekurhuleni has a dedicated team to monitor air quality daily to safeguard the health of the community.
“This is because the city recognises that poor air quality contributes to serious health problems, including respiratory diseases and premature mortalities. These initiatives not only respond to current public health needs but also contribute to sustainable development and long-term well-being,” said Dlamini.
FF Plus not impressed
In a media statement issued on September 25, Councillor Jennifer Glover of the Freedom Front Plus called it “ironic” that the metro celebrates World Environmental Health Day while residents are struggling to breathe due to high levels of air pollution in Ekurhuleni.
“Instead of clean air and accessible healthcare, residents’ daily lives are severely impacted by pollution and a lack of basic medical care,” said Glover.
According to Glover, the metro’s ten air quality monitoring stations, located in areas such as Springs and Thembisa, are not functioning properly.
“Some have been damaged by vandalism, while others are not repaired due to budget reallocations. This means the metro has no accurate data on the actual state of air quality, while residents’ health keeps deteriorating. Funds earmarked for repairing air quality monitoring stations have been reallocated, while the tender processes for repairs remain pending. This is a clear sign that the metro does not prioritise its residents’ health,” she added.
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