Program Director
Honourable MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism: Ms Pinky Kekana
Executive Mayor and Members of Mayoral Committee
Ward Councillors
Members of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Let me take this opportunity, on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs to thank the leadership and residents of Mahwelereng under Mogalakwena Municipality for the warmth welcome.
We are gathered here today just two days after the birthday celebrations of the oldest former state man, our beloved Tata Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela.
It is my pleasure to be launching the monitoring stations for the Waterberg Bojanala Priority Area (WBPA), as well as the process of developing the Air Quality Management Plan and Threat Assessment, just a few weeks after the Minister has declared the area a Priority Area for air quality management.
We are proud to announce that government has now declared 3 National Priority Areas: The Vaal Triangle Airshed, the Highveld, and the Waterberg-Bojanala Priority areas in 2006, 2007 and 2012 respectively. In addition, implementation of the Air Quality Management Plans for the Vaal Triangle and Highveld Priority Areas is already underway.
The Waterberg-Bojanala Priority Area has been considered a “pristine” environment for years. Activity around this area all started when Eskom announced its electricity crises in 2008. That was a wake-up call to the nation that the Witbank/Middleburg coalfields which has been the source of more than 80% of South Africa’s total coal output for many years was reaching its depletion stage. The focus dramatically shifted to the Waterberg treasure chest and its significant virgin coal reserves, with the coalfield of up to 50 billion tons of coal waiting to be unearthed.
That triggered the recent rush for new development and expansions in this area which was mainly fuelled by Eskom’s approved R26-billion 4800 megawatts: Medupi power station (Matimba B) at Lephalale in northern Limpopo and its investigations into the construction of several new power stations in the area in future. Major among other planned developments are Exxaro Resources’ Grootegeluk mine expansion, Exxaro’s new Greenfield mine and char facility, and Anglo Coal coalbed methane gas exploration, to name just a few.
The future perception of this area is two-fold – on one hand as a probable future coal hub in South Africa and an economic engine in the province, however, on the other hand, as a future example of sustainable development.
This means that there is urgency for proactive and precautionary measures to be put in place prior to these planned developments, to ensure that the air quality meets ambient air quality standards, and citizens are assured of their right to an environment that is not harmful to health and well-being.
This is a prime case of seeking a balance between the need for job creation and economic development on the one hand, as was emphasised by the President in his 2012 State of the Nation Address and the need to protect people’s health and well-being as part of our Constitutional mandate, on the other. That is why, soon after the President’ State of the Nation’s Address, the area was declared a Priority Area by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, to ensure that such mega developments in the area are taking into consideration the health and well-being of our people.
The development of the Waterberg-Bojanala Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan and Threat Assessment is therefore a plan-ahead to ensure that government and industry work together in ensuring that current and future emissions in this area remain within National Ambient Air Quality Standard that will be achieved through the Multi-Stakeholder Reference Group made up of government and a variety of stakeholders.
Whilst the Waterberg-Bojanala District is in general terms a clean environment, it incorporates Bojanala District which experiences significant air quality challenges, particularly from the Rustenburg area.
In order to assess the air quality in this area the national Department of Environmental Affairs has purchased and installed 3 state of the art ambient air quality monitoring stations to ensure that the efficacy of interventions, as outlined in the Air Quality Management Plan, is assessed scientifically. These monitoring stations are installed in various municipal areas in the Waterberg Priority Area, to measure the levels of air pollution every day.
These stations are placed on public premises. I must forthwith thank the heads of all the institutions who agreed to have the stations installed on their premises more especially Department of Public Works who has been instrumental in this regard.
The significance of monitoring the air quality in this area is to be able to see if the interventions that we put in place are working. This will be done by measuring air pollution levels now, prior to any interventions taking place, and to measure continuously into the future during and after the implementation of various interventions. Given that the declaration of the Waterberg Priority Area follows a pro-active approach, air pollution measurements from these air quality monitoring stations will over time assist air quality policy makers to detect abrupt changes in air quality levels and be in a position to act on time. This exemplifies a complete paradigm shift in how we intend managing air quality in South Africa.
The next time we gather in this fashion, let it be to withdraw the Waterberg/Bojanala Priority Area a Priority Area because we would have collectively taken action to ensure that the quality of air is within acceptable ambient air quality standards. You will all agree that, that would be the best gift to the future generation.
Thank you for your kind attention and please accept my best wishes for the success of the project.
Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi addresses launch of Waterberg-Bojanala Priority Area Air Quality Monitoring Station and process of developing Waterberg-Bojanala Priority Area Air Quality Management plan and Threat Assessment
