Collaborating to improve air quality and health outcomes in the Vaal
16 June 2025 at 11:05 am
Life After Coal (LAC), in partnership with the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA), hosted the Vaal Air Quality and Health Day at the Zamdela Community Hall under the theme ‘Collaborating to Improve Air Quality and Health Outcomes in the Vaal.’
The event was aimed at raising awareness and building community advocacy around the severe health effects of air pollution in the Vaal Triangle.
Life After Coal is a coalition campaign formed by Earthlife Africa, groundWork, and the Centre for Environmental Rights aiming to address the issue of air pollution resulting from the burning of fossil fuels.
The Vaal Triangle comprising Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg, Sebokeng, and Evaton, is one of the three most polluted areas in South Africa. Due to chronic emissions, the burning of fossil fuels in the production of energy and fuel, steel production and mining leads to air pollution and poor health of these communities. As a result the Vaal was declared a national priority area under Section 18(1) of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (Act No. 39 of 2004).
Air pollution in the region contributes to numerous health problems, particularly respiratory diseases and other long-term medical conditions. Beyond its direct health effects, air pollution has wider social and economic consequences, including reduced workforce productivity, job losses, and increased unemployment.
A recent study commissioned by Life After Coal, revealed that the health system is struggling to respond to environmental health impacts of air pollution. According to researchers from the University of KwaZulu Natal and University of Pretoria, the Department of Health policies fail to address air pollution-related diseases but instead its policies focus on a general Primary Health Care approach to treatment and care of healthcare conditions presented by communities at public health facility level.
Drawing from the judgement of the Supreme Court of Appeal on the #DeadlyAir case confirming a right to clean air, the Vaal Air Quality and Health day brings together residents, healthcare workers, and air quality officers to advocate for clean air and for mobilising communities to demand clean air as a human right.
Activities of the day will include the Air Quality and Environmental Health Literacy Workshop, which will be conducted to empower residents with knowledge about the health impacts of air pollution. These sessions will strengthen community advocacy for environmental justice and improved healthcare services in affected areas.
This event is part of the Life After Coal campaign’s ongoing advocacy work on Air Quality and Health Project, which seeks to:
- Advocate for health-based air quality reforms.
- advocate for constant air quality monitoring and repair and installation of air quality monitoring stations in the Vaal priority area. Currently only 60% of the air quality stations are in South Africa’s designated priority areas.
- Promote community-led advocacy strategies to address air pollution.
The Vaal Air Quality and Health Day represents a critical step forward in uniting communities, health experts, and environmental advocates to confront the ongoing air pollution crisis. By fostering collaboration and empowering residents with knowledge and resources, this event aims to catalyse meaningful change toward cleaner air and healthier lives in the Vaal. Together, we can ensure that the constitutional right to a safe and healthy environment becomes a reality for all.
Quotations
“The Vaal Air Quality and Health Day aims to empower affected communities by equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary for active participation in environmental governance and health governance. This initiative is a crucial step in the fight against air pollution and advocates for clean air and a sustainable future beyond fossil fuels,“ Mafoko Phomane – groundWork, Senior Environmental Health Campaigner.
“The poor air quality in the Vaal Priority Area violates residents’ constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being, as enshrined in Section 24(a) of the Constitution. The air quality and health day provides us a platform to advocate and voice concerns as a community on the violation of our human right to a clean environment,” Mduduzi Tshabalala – VEJA Media Coordinator.
About Life After Coal
Life After Coal / Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle
A joint campaign by Earthlife Africa, groundWork, and the Centre for Environmental Rights, Life After Coal works to stop the development of new coal infrastructure, reduce emissions from existing coal-fired power stations and mines, and promote a just transition to sustainable energy systems.
Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA)
VEJA is an alliance of five community-based environmental organisations in the Vaal region. The alliance focuses on issues of air quality, water pollution, waste management, and climate justice.
Media enquiries
Please contact Tsepang Molefe: Media and Communications Campaigner [email protected]
Phone 074-4051257