Programme Director
Ms Motlalepula Rosho, MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism
Cllr RJL Diremelo, Executive Mayor: Bojanala Platinum District Municipality
Cllr Mpho Khunou, Mayor: Rustenburg Local Municipality
Councillors
Officials from various Government Departments, Municipalities and other Institutions
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning
Firstly, I would like to thank the North West Province for hosting the 7th Annual Air Quality Governance Lekgotla. I am delighted to be with you in this important event today which Air Quality Officials from three spheres of government across the country came together to share their challenges, refine regulatory tools and to discuss means and ways to ensure the Air Quality Act (AQA) is implemented efficiently and effectively.
Service delivery is a responsibility of all spheres of government, we are one government, we should pool together, provide hands on support to local government and stop pointing fingers at one another. The presence of officials from all spheres of government in this Lekgotla gives me hope that we are a united Team committed to serving the people of South Africa wholeheartedly.
The theme for this Lekgotla is “Sharpening the Air Quality Technical and Legislative Aspects for Improved Service Delivery”. This theme keeps us focused on the Air Quality Act (AQA) which is aligned to South Africa’s Constitution and in particular, the right to an environment that is not harmful to health and well-being. The Act also provides all three spheres of government with a full set of regulatory powers and tools to implement their Constitutional air quality governance functions.
To this end, various AQA technical and regulatory tools have been developed and are also being amended to assist government collectively with the implementation of the Air Quality Act to protect people’s constitutional right to clean air.
To mention just a few, the National Framework for Air Quality Management, which was established in 2007 as contemplated in Section 7 of the AQA, is currently under review, the Section 21 of the AQA (Listed Activities and Associated Minimum Emission Standards) is being amended, and ambient air quality monitoring is expanding across the country.
Therefore, the 2012 Air Quality Governance Lekgotla focuses on government’s unified implementation of the AQA and sharpening of its technical and legislative tools.
The National Framework for Air Quality Management is an important tool to ensure that government continues to give necessary support and guidance to all spheres of government through various means such as:
- The development of various implementation manuals, regulations, guidelines, standard formats, templates aimed at the efficient and effective implementation of the AQA.
- The development and implementation of training programmes and providing specialist technical assistance and support to all licensing authorities.
- The compilation and publishing of pamphlets, booklets and other media aimed at raising awareness around air quality and empowering all sectors of the society to place their part in improving and/or maintaining good air quality in South Africa.
For example, the Air Quality Management Planning Manual was developed to assist all the authorities in their development of their Air Quality Management Plans (AQMPs) to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to address air quality issues in their areas. The officials from all municipalities must ensure that their respective municipalities develop the AQMPs to address, coordinate and facilitate air quality functions within your areas of jurisdiction.
The South African Air Quality Information System (the SAAQIS) is also an important tool that we should use efficiently.
If all air quality officials report their ambient air quality monitoring data into SAAQIS, this information will be valuable to all of you to monitor the levels of air pollution across the country. This will assist government to make informed decisions and develop the necessary interventions and focus our resources towards the areas of concern.
If you need support don’t be shy come forward and request support from the National Department of Environmental Affairs, I am also encouraging the officials from the department to be proactive and keep on checking support required by municipalities.
The declaration of the National Priority Areas is a remarkable milestone. This year the Bojanala-Waterberg Priority Area was declared as the third priority area as an indication of the government’s intention to defend the right of all to an environment that is not harmful to health and well-being.
I would like to applaud the Air Quality Officials within the North West Province who raised concerns about the ambient air quality standards in Bojanala, which then ensured that the area be incorporated in the declaration.
Now that this area is part of the National Priority Areas in terms of air quality, I hope government and industry will work together to ensure that the air within Bojanala is improved to the acceptable levels. I will also like to encourage the MEC and Mayors in this area to give the necessary support to air quality initiatives aimed at addressing the significant air quality challenges and improving the quality of air in this area.
I have been leading the Air Quality Lekgotla since 2008, the air quality governance team has always been a committed team towards a common goal. In spite of challenges, the team continues to push for the achievement of the set targets.
I am committing myself to mobilise all the Mayors across the country to commit required resources to Air Quality Management and also to be its Champions.
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to officially open this 7th Annual Air Quality Governance Lekgotla.
I hope this gathering will maintain its focus and continue to build the air quality governance team. I wish you fruitful and productive deliberation.
I thank you!
