Residents across the West Rand and other parts of Gauteng woke up yesterday (October 28) to a mysterious, foul smell, marking the latest in a series of unexplained air-quality episodes that have plagued the broader region over the past year.

Reports of an overpowering odour soon spread from Randfontein to Fourways.

Members of the public took to social media to share their experiences, with some blaming family members for passing wind and others wondering if their pets were responsible.

As reported by the Randfontein Herald, Ruanda Ferreira from Kenmare said the smell reminded her of old car oil, while her husband compared it to faeces. Elsie Ferreira from Rant-en-Dal said it resembled gas, while residents in Muldersdrift, Witpoortjie and Randpark Ridge reported an odour resembling cat urine. Marie Blignaut from Rant-en-Dal said it gave her a bad cough and kept her awake.

Refilwe Mahlangu, the assistant to Mogale City Local Municipality’s media and public relations manager, confirmed receiving complaints from stakeholders in and around Krugersdorp.

“Following these complaints, readings from the low-cost sensor at the Krugersdorp Central Library were reviewed. The readings indicate spikes in PM2.5 and PM10 [particulate matter] levels between 00:00 and 08:00 on Wednesday (October 28), followed by a decline after 08:00,” Mahlangu explained. She added that the source remains unknown and that the municipality will engage relevant authorities because the pollution is transboundary.

According to the World Health Organisation, PM2.5 and PM10 refer to tiny airborne particles that can be inhaled into the lungs. PM2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the respiratory system so that elevated levels can pose a health risk.

These readings can be compared with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards established under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004. The national standards set a 24-hour limit of 75µg/m³ for PM10 and 40µg/m³ for PM2.5. However, the overnight spikes alone do not establish whether the applicable 24-hour limits were exceeded. 

Health warnings and weather patterns

In a follow-up report by the Randfontein Herald, BCI Security chief communications officer Paul Catlett noted that descriptions ranged from sulphur and rotten eggs to cat urine.

“A rotten-egg odour is commonly associated with hydrogen sulphide. Sulphur dioxide can also irritate the eyes and airways, but the smell alone cannot tell us which gas is present or how much is in the air,” Catlett said, clarifying that BCI Security was sharing reports as a community concern without having conducted independent air-quality testing.

Catlett referenced an episode in March when Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) monitoring data showed elevated hydrogen sulphide carried from Mpumalanga towards Gauteng by south-easterly winds. Unofficial forecasting account Gauteng Weather also posted on X that a strong sulphur smell was present yesterday due to an east-south-easterly wind, creating unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups.

Tyrone Gray, a DA mayoral candidate for Mogale City, said the party has been reporting poor air quality since May 2023, initially linked to burning at the now-closed Luipaardsvlei landfill site. Gray raised concerns about outdated monitoring equipment, such as the station at Leratong, calling the situation an infringement of rights under Section 24 and Section 152(1)(d) of the Constitution. The DA has escalated the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission and the DFFE.

Long-standing battles across Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni

Persistent industrial and environmental odours also affect neighbouring municipalities.

As reported in October 2025 by Germiston City News, residents in Elspark, Germiston, have endured a persistent sulphuric ‘rotten egg’ smell for nearly six years. The School of Achievement said learners with asthma and sinus problems were falling ill, while Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa member Talfryn Harris warned that prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulphide can desensitise the sense of smell and pose severe health risks.

Meanwhile, environmental hazards like illegal dumping have exacerbated regional air quality and health concerns. In January 2026, Germiston City News reported that the City of Ekurhuleni urged residents to report illegal waste dumping, warning that toxic runoff, burning waste that contributes to air pollution, and pest breeding grounds pose severe environmental risks, with offenders facing spot fines of up to R10 000 or imprisonment.

Similar widespread odour episodes hit Johannesburg earlier this year. In March 2026, Fourways Review reported that a strong sulphur-like smell lingered across Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort and Fourways. City of Johannesburg technical teams detected spikes of hydrogen sulphide (peaking at 36–37 ppb at Alexandra station) and sulphur dioxide. City manager Floyd Brink and executive director Tebogo Modiba noted that while concentrations remained below severe health-risk thresholds, they were consistent with transboundary emissions linked to the Highveld industrial complex.

Echoes of earlier Vaal Triangle episodes

Yesterday’s stench follows a pattern of similar, unexplained cross-boundary odour events across Gauteng and surrounding industrial hubs over the past year.

Between December 2025 and January 2026, Vaalweekblad documented a persistent ammonia-like smell resembling cat urine across Meyerton, Vereeniging and Sasolburg, accompanied by a visible haze. Midvaal councillors Phil Pretorius and Salome Janse van Rensburg noted that reports eventually expanded to Springs, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Heidelberg, reportedly causing widespread nasal irritation and headaches.

During that surge, global energy company Sasol, in a written response to Midvaal Local Municipality councillor Salome Janse van Rensburg,  said they conducted internal investigations and confirmed its facilities were not responsible.

In February 2026, Sedibeng Ster reported that the Vaal Triangle stench had been designated as ‘cross-boundary pollution’ and handed over to the national DFFE for formal investigation.

While it remains unconfirmed whether yesterday’s West Rand stench shares a source with the earlier Vaal Triangle events, both highlight an ongoing challenge with regional air monitoring and pollution tracking across municipal borders.

How to report air quality incidents

Authorities urge residents across affected regions to log complaints directly to assist investigators in tracking sources:

• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Hotline: 0800 205 005 | Email: envirocrime@dffe.gov.za
• Sasol Odour Emergency Services: 016 960 3111

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