VEREENIGING – The MEC for Gauteng Department of Environment, Ewan Botha has expressed his commitment to restoring efficiency and accountability in Emfuleni Local Municipality’s (ELM) waste management. Botha accompanied by ELM mayor Sipho Radebe and his mayoral committee conducted a site inspection of the municipal fleet and waste management equipment.

The inspection included a physical verification of assets. The visit was sanctioned by the Gauteng Executive Council, following growing concerns about Emfuleni’s waste management and air quality.

“We are committed to working hand in hand with Emfuleni Local Municipality to restore efficiency and accountability in waste management. This partnership is about real, measurable progress,”

Botha highlighted his commitment to turning the situation around. Botha announced a working partnership between the department and ELM to address fleet and waste management challenges and confirmed that monthly progress checks will be conducted to ensure consistent improvement.

The visit comes after the department’s announcement that it would intensify compliance raids at factories and landfill sites in an effort to deal with pollution. During the briefing, it was revealed that some factories in Gauteng operate in proximity to residential areas.

Botha said compliance for any business is not negotiable. He said 56 enforcement notices have already been issued to businesses in this quarter.

“One of the ripe lying fruits is these areas where in there is a lot of burning, non-compliance with your atmospheric licenses. Industries and factories that have got accessible emission limit (AEL) need to be monitored carefully.”

The MEC has revealed Gauteng currently has 15 operational air quality monitoring stations out of 31.