The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi addressed the Air Quality Governance Lekgotla today, 29 October, in Rustenburg. The address marked the opening of the 7th edition of the Air Quality Governance Lekgotla, which ends on 30 October 2012.
The Department of Environmental Affairs’ latest State of the Air report indicates that air quality in South Africa, especially in dense urban-industrial areas, remains a national cause for concern. It is clear that continued and increased national, provincial and local action is required in order to meet the Presidential Outcome 10 target of full air quality compliance by 2020.
Further, such research findings show that not all South Africans enjoy their Constitutional right to air that is not harmful to their health and well-being. It is with the aim of examining such challenges in air quality management and finding the best possible ways to address them that the department hosts events such as the annual Air Quality Governance Lekgotla.
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has been hosting the annual Air Quality Governance Lekgotla since 2005. The Lekgotla is an event that provides a forum for coordination and capacity building in the field of air quality management. Through engagements on work experiences, successes and challenges, the event gives air quality officials from all spheres of government the opportunity to refine regulatory tools and discuss various means to ensure that the Air Quality Act (AQA) is implemented efficiently and effectively.
This exchange of information also increases cooperation and collaboration between the three spheres of government to work together in order to improve the quality of air in the country. All these engagements contribute towards ensuring that the department is better placed to work towards its Constitutional mandate of ensuring the right of all South African citizens to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being.
The theme for this year’s Lekgotla is “Sharpening the air quality technical and legislative aspects for improved service delivery”. The objective of the event is to ensure that, through the knowledge gained during the Lekgotla, all government air quality managers are motivated to increase and hone their skills towards the implementation of the Air Quality Act (AQA).
During her address, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi stressed the importance of this objective and of it receiving practical backing in order to ensure the success of air quality management work, saying: “I would like to encourage my colleagues, as the political principals 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.”
There are various technical and legislative tools that DEA has developed to roll out and monitor the implementation of the AQA. These include, amongst others, the National Framework for Air Quality Management, air quality model by-laws, the Air Quality Management Planning (AQMP) manual, National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Listed Activities as well as the Minimum Emission Standards. Several of these tools are currently under review to build momentum around the on-going implementation of the AQA.
Besides the engagements between air quality management officials that will take place, this year’s Lekgotla is also about showcasing the department’s work in this field. The Lekgotla will allow the department the opportunity to profile its work in managing and improving air quality in the country and to highlight the progress it has made to date with regards to the rollout of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (Act No. 39 of 2004). Topics to be addressed for the duration of the event include the compliance and enforcement roles of air quality officials, climate change co-benefits and the implementation progress of the National Climate Change Policy.
By focusing on the theme “Sharpening the air quality technical and legislative aspects for improved service delivery”, this year’s Air Quality Governance Lekgotla is not only strongly aligned to the department’s Constitutional mandate, but also to government’s commitment to using legislation to better the living conditions of all South Africans. As expressed by the Deputy Minister, the event is also held in the hope that it “will maintain its focus and continue to build the air quality governance team.”
For media queries, please contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
