2014-05-30-fa64-ppc-meeting-on-s21-4474291ced634951.pdf

Unofficial minutes from a May 8, 2013, meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs regarding public hearings on Section 21 listed activities of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (No. 39 of 2004). The session involved submissions from industry bodies and civil society organizations concerning emission standards, the fairness of the amendment process, and the health impacts of air pollution on local communities.

• Civil society organizations, including the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), criticized the Department of Environmental Affairs for a lack of transparency and inclusivity in the amendment process for Section 21 regulations. The LRC argued that the process shifted from multi-stakeholder consultations to bilateral meetings with industry, which led to a "relaxation of standards" and prevented civil society from challenging technical representations made by industry stakeholders.
• The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) reported severe health issues in the South Durban area, including asthma and death, attributed to industrial pollution. The SDCEA alleged that multinational companies utilize protective technologies in developed countries but fail to implement them in South Africa, and claimed that the Department of Environmental Affairs had failed to respond to over 338 air pollution complaints since 2011.
• The Legal Resources Centre, representing the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE), highlighted the environmental and health hazards of the Witwatersrand Mining Basin. The area contains approximately 400 km2 of mine tailings dams and six billion tons of pyrite tailings. Wind erosion of these dams releases radioactive and toxic dust, affecting 1.6 million people living in informal settlements and contributing to silicosis and damage to the kidneys, brain, and reproductive system.
• Industry representatives, including the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) and the Chemical and Allied Industries Association, raised concerns over the technical feasibility and economic impact of the emission standards. SAPIA advocated for a "bubble approach" to managing point source emissions rather than a "stack approach," and noted that some proposed standards were more stringent than those in Europe.
• The Association of Cementitious Material Producers warned that current emission standards could hinder the use of natural limestone resources in South Africa, negatively impacting regional mining and the National Development Plan. They noted that implementing abatement technologies for an old plant to comply with sulphur dioxide standards could cost up to R150 million, while a new plant could cost up to R3 billion.
• The Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) raised issues regarding 'Copeland' reactors, stating that measuring hygroscopic chemicals with accuracy is difficult and alternative technologies are not cost-effective. The phasing out of one such reactor resulted in the retrenchment of 700 people.
• The owner of Environcin Pet Crematorium and Memorial Park requested the creation of a specific category for companion animal crematoria, separate from Category 8 (Disposal of Hazardous General Waste). He warned that failing to do so could lead to an increase in pet carcasses in landfills and cause job losses in the sector.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 2014-05-30-fa64-ppc-meeting-on-s21-4474291ced634951.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA64-PPC-Meeting-on-S21.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 2014-05-30-fa64-ppc-meeting-on-s21-4474291ced634951.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA64-PPC-Meeting-on-S21.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=2014-05-30-fa64-ppc-meeting-on-s21-4474291ced634951.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA64-PPC-Meeting-on-S21.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd20140530fa64ppcmeetingons214474291ced634951pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{2014-05-30-fa64-ppc-meeting-on-s21-4474291ced634951.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-05-30-FA64-PPC-Meeting-on-S21.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }