The City of Ekurhuleni at its council meeting on July 29 decided to approve the City’s Draft Air Quality Management By-laws to be taken for public consultation and participation in Ekurhuleni.
The draft by-laws is an outcome of thorough internal consultations with other relevant departments as well as the process of the greening of by-laws in the City.
The need was identified by the City to have its own by-laws to address matters related to the high levels of air pollution in the City emanating from industries, vehicles emissions, dust emissions, open burning, agricultural activities, pesticide spraying and spray-painting emissions.
The draft by-laws also address issues related to noise pollution and complaints.
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The City of Ekurhuleni was declared a priority area by the minister of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries in terms of Section 18 of the National Environment Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act 39 of 2004) and, therefore, forms part of the Highveld Priority Area, which covers Ekurhuleni and extends to Mpumalanga.
The area was declared a priority area due to high levels of air pollution in the area.
Some of the factors causing the high levels of pollution are several industries in the City.
The other reason is wind direction, which results in pollution from industries in Mpumalanga landing in Ekurhuleni.
The by-laws, therefore, aim to mitigate against the high levels of pollution and minimise pollution to acceptable levels for human health as well as the environment.
In speeding up the promulgation of the by-laws, the City intends to arrange virtual meetings with interested and affected parties, communities and community organisations as well as other structures of the community that may be affected by the by-laws.
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To this effect, the City is making a call to all to contact the office of the City’s air quality officer, Dr Jerry Chaka, on 011 999 2970 or at Nomvula.sirenqe@ekurhuleni.gov.za to register names and emails of interested and affected parties and/or organisations to be invited for virtual meetings.
Dates and times will be shared with parties once the registration process is finalised.
An electronic copy of the draft by-laws can also be sourced from the above numbers and/or email address.
The City is encouraging all community members, interested and affected parties and organisations to register before September 10.
The consultation process will run from September 20.
Make your voices heard for the creation of an environment that is not harmful to communities, both present and future generations.
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