Pollution watchdog demands compliance, stern action amid Richards Bay air quality concerns
Air quality monitoring expert rejects DFFE deputy minister's pollution proposals
Local air pollution monitoring experts have responded with incredulity to environmental Deputy Minister Narend Singh’s comment that Richards Bay may be declared a priority area in terms of the Air Quality Act ‘where the evidence supports it’.
He was speaking last week at a captains of industry engagement hosted by the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI).
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“What more evidence is needed?” asked Richards Bay Clean Air Association (RBCAA) director and public officer Sandy Camminga.
“Air quality issues in Richards Bay are not a sudden revelation, which is what it appears to be to the minister.
“The community, RBCAA and Zululand Observer have been vocalising air quality issues for years.
“President Ramaphosa himself visited the area two years ago and was witness to the truck and coal dust fiasco, and absolutely nothing came of it.”
Camminga was also taken aback at Singh’s call for the establishing of a pollution forum, and his offer to donate an air quality monitoring station to the City of uMhlathuze.
“The actions and structures that are vaguely committed to by the minister already exist,” she said.
“The RBCAA has been operating an independent air quality monitoring network since its establishment in 1997.
“The network measures ambient air quality at nine sites within uMhlathuze, with the data uploaded live to the RBCAA website and SAAQIS (South African Air Quality Information System).
“This data, with monthly and annual reports, are accessible to the public and the authorities, who have come to rely on the RBCAA data as the City of uMhlathuze faces challenges with their network of four stations.
“Environmental forums have long been established with each of the major industries, chaired by the authorities, where each industry is required to present their environmental performance to authorities and stakeholders and are held to account.
“We do not need more monitoring, we do not need another forum, we need compliance to be enforced and action taken when the health and quality of life of residents is being affected.”
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