The KwaZulu-Natal government has admitted that none of the six provincially-run air quality monitoring stations are currently operational.

In a startling revelation on July 1, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) confirmed that all six of the provincially-run air quality (AQ) monitoring stations – including the one at the iLembe Auditorium in KwaDukuza – are offline.

The disclosure came in response to formal parliamentary questions submitted by the Democratic Alliance (DA), raising serious concerns about public health and environmental governance.

EDTEA said the stations have been non-functional for an extended period due to a lack of funding. According to the DA, this leaves communities exposed to unmonitored air pollution.

Even more troubling, the department also admitted it has not conducted any studies or assessments on the health impacts of poor air quality on residents.

The DA condemned this as a “gross dereliction of duty,” accusing successive administrations of allowing the monitoring system to collapse.

Neither EDTEA nor the iLembe District Municipality provided comment.

“Without data, there can be no accountability, and without accountability, communities will continue to suffer needlessly,” said DA KZN spokesperson on environmental affairs, Hannah Lidgett.

According to EDTEA, only three of the six monitoring stations – including iLembe – are scheduled for repair in the 2025/26 financial year. The remaining three will not be addressed until 2026/27.

The department has pointed to its newly approved Air Quality Management Plan as a framework for future health impact assessments. However, the DA argues the timeline is too slow and the damage already done is immeasurable.

The Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (Docrra) has gone further, describing the failure as a breach of citizens’ Constitutional rights.

Docrra environmental subcommittee chairperson Brian Pottinger said the association had previously alerted iLembe to the situation.

“We pointed out to iLembe that the non-functioning AQ monitors breach citizens’ Constitutional rights. They say they are waiting for funds,” said Pottinger.

“That is why we support private initiatives like Communities Against Pollution, which monitor air quality to identify sources of pollution and bring them to the authorities’ attention. We have sponsored two monitors and approved two more.”

There are a number of air monitoring stations that work across KwaZulu-Natal, but they are operated by individual municipalities as opposed to the EDTEA. A full list can be found here.

• Note: This story was updated on July 11. The original headline “No operational air monitors in KZN, confirms EDTEA” has been updated to “No working EDTEA air monitors in KZN”. The original story has also been updated for clarity to reflect that there are air monitoring stations that work in KZN, but they are not run by the EDTEA. All six of the EDTEA’s air monitoring stations are not operational, as reported.

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