Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment, Ms Makhotso Sotyu delivers keynote address at the National Air Quality Governance Lekgotla, Polokwane, Limpopo
Honourable MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism in Limpopo Province, Mr Rodgers Monama;
Honourable MMC for Development Planning and Environmental Management Services, MMC Calvin Masoga;
Program Director, and Deputy Director-General in Limpopo Province, Ms Keleabetswe Tlouane;
Officials from all spheres of government, South African Weather Service and SALGA.
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 17th Annual National Air Quality Governance Lekgotla. We regard these gatherings highly, as they award us an opportunity to celebrate together our achievements, but mostly, to reflect on the momentous work that is ahead of us to improve the quality of air across the Republic of South Africa.
We are gathered under the theme “Scalable Emission Reductions by 2030”. This Lekgotla has been deliberately hosted to coincide with the commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on 7 September with this year’s theme of “Together for Clean Air”. The themes for our Governance Lekgotla and the International Day of Clear Air for Blue Skies focus on the need for stronger partnerships, increased investments, and shared responsibility to reduce air pollution. Both themes also call upon everyone, from government and corporations to civil society and individuals to come together to overcome air pollution challenges that our country faces.
Our air quality monitoring network shows that we have not yet met our national ambient air quality standards. Despite government’s efforts over the years, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and ozone remain the key pollutants of concern, especially in metropolitan municipalities and the air quality priority areas. Large scale industrial activities, power stations, vehicles, waste burning, and the burning of open veld continue to be major causes of air pollution. Recently, loadshedding has increased the country’s reliance on alternative energy sources such as generators, coal, wood, charcoal, and paraffin in communities. The reliance on these alternative energy sources not only poses health hazards to the individuals themselves, but also exacerbate the deterioration of air quality.
South Africa has made significant strides to attain improvements in the quality of air since the promulgation of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act. Our country has progressively facilitated the realisation of the Constitutional Right to an environment that promotes sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth that is not harmful to the health and well-being of citizens. We have advanced these constitutional rights to a safe and healthy environment with strong laws, vibrant cooperative governance, and innovative tools on air pollution management. These laws and tools must be supported by an effective and proactive enforcement to reduce harmful levels of air pollution and ensure a safe and healthy environment.
We continue to acknowledge the reality that the effectiveness of our municipalities; who are at the coalface of service delivery; varies depending on the resources available, political will, and cooperation between different stakeholders. During March this year, the Department, and South African Local Government Association (SAGLA) held the 2nd Environmental Indaba to engage on the key local government challenges regarding environmental management, and in particular, air quality management.
Your deliberations during this Lekgotla must carry through the work from the Environmental Indaba and take the work forward to establish mechanisms to assist those municipalities in developing and implementing air quality management programs, as well as advocating for the prioritisation and resourcing of air quality functions.
I am excited to share that a National Air Quality Outreach Programme has been initiated in this Lekgotla. This is a partnership between the Department, the hosting province Limpopo and South African Weather Service (SAWS), to bring fifty (50) school leaners and thirty (30) university students to be part of the Lekgotla. This programme is designed to capacitate learners on air pollution issues and to showcase environmental management as a career of choice.
In my address at the previous Air Quality Governance Lekgotla of 2022, I pointed out a number of areas of concern:
Firstly, our air quality monitoring stations continue to face increasing pressure due to escalating operational and maintenance costs, and ageing infrastructure. At a time when the country is faced with economic and social challenges, and fiscal constraints, the national Department has had to find new ways to meet monitoring objectives through the support of the SAWS. We will be calling upon the entity to assist all spheres of government in managing several strategic stations for the foreseeable future. Such an intervention must ultimately build the much-needed technical capacity in government that will be sustainable.
Secondly, I emphasized the sector performance with respect to the management of atmospheric emission licenses. While capacity at local government remains a challenge, the implementation of the Special Cabinet decision to assist struggling municipalities with the administrative function of processing atmospheric emission licences has enabled significant improvements in this regard. The sector has achieved an efficiency of 88% in processing atmospheric emission licences in the last financial year, compared to 63% achieved in the previous financial year.
Thirdly, I highlighted that the Department was developing priority area regulations to implement and enforce Priority Area Air Quality Management Plans. I am happy to report that these regulations have undergone extensive public consultations and will be considered for publication soon. These regulations will intensify accountability and a shared responsibility across all sectors of society in improving the quality of air.
In closing, ladies and gentlemen, as you deliberate and reflect on your performance in the past five (5) years, as well as looking ahead to the new Medium Term Strategic Framework, your deliberations must recognise the urgency to address air pollution challenges. Our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Eleven (11) for South Africa to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals, air, water, soil pollution and contamination by 2030, must be reflected in your future strategic planning.
The Lekgotla theme “Scalable Emission Reductions by 2030” must support the country’s commitments for an environment that is not harmful to the health and well-being of all citizens.
I wish you well in your deliberations during this Lekgotla.
I thank you all.
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