industries and communities in the Highveld area covering parts of Gauteng and
Mpumalanga of its intention to declare the Highveld a priority area
21 September 2007
The Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Rejoice
Mabudafhasi, will visit Witbank on Tuesday, 25 September 2007, to meet with the
Mpumalanga MEC for Agriculture and Land Administration, Dina Pule, other
provincial based leaders, industries, communities and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) to inform them about the department's intention to declare
the Highveld a priority area and invite them to collaborate with government to
address the challenges of air pollution as a collective.
Major towns such as Witbank, Middelburg, Secunda, Standerton, Edenvale,
Boksburg, Benoni and Balfour are collectively known as the Highveld. "The
affected areas cover 31 106 kilometre square and is inhabited by 3,6 million
people who constitute eight percent of the total population of South Africa.
The emissions from operations results in poor air quality which could affect
the health of the residents living in these areas and simultaneously contribute
to the growing problem of global warming which gives rise to climate change,"
said Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi.
The day's activities include a tour of Ferro Metals (Samancor Chrome) to
hear a presentation on the waste management plan by the plant's top management
and observe the operation's activities.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has already published a
notice in May this year giving intention to declare the Highveld a priority
area because the ambient air quality is polluted in terms of standards set in
the Air Quality Act.
The media is invited to attend all the proceedings and is also welcome to
interview the Deputy Minister, MEC and the community leaders.
For more information, please contact:
Mava Scott
Acting Chief Director: Communication
Cell: 082 411 9821
Moses Rannditsheni
Media Liaison Officer for Deputy Minister
Tel: 012 310 3899
Cell: 082 448 2450
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
21 September 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.environment.gov.za)
