BROKEN PROMISES

The report concludes that the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) has failed to improve air quality over the decade since its 2007 declaration. Despite the 2012 air quality management plan, ambient air quality remains out of compliance with health-based standards, largely due to industrial non-compliance and government failure in monitoring and enforcement. The authors highlight a deterioration in the monitoring network, inadequate dust control for mining, and a lack of resources and skilled staff within local municipalities. The report specifically criticizes the National Air Quality Officer for granting compliance postponements to major polluters Eskom and Sasol, arguing that this has hindered pollution reduction and violated the constitutional rights of residents.

• Air quality in the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) has not improved in the ten years following its 2007 declaration, with aggregate emissions remaining stagnant and the area continuing to exceed national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
• The network for monitoring ambient air quality has significantly deteriorated; the number of monitoring sites with available data dropped from 23 in the 2012 plan to just nine in a 2017 draft review, with only five providing timely monthly reports.
• There has been negligible progress in reducing dust emissions, particularly from mining, and the National Dust Control Regulations of 2013 have proven inadequate.
• Local governments, specifically the Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) and eMalahleni Local Municipality, lack the financial resources, trained staff, and dedicated Air Quality Officers necessary to enforce the Air Quality Act.
• The National Air Quality Officer's 2015 decision to grant compliance postponements for minimum emission standards to Sasol and Eskom has significantly obstructed efforts to reduce air pollution in the HPA.
• Efforts to address indoor air pollution in dense, low-income settlements are insufficient, as the 2016 draft Strategy lacks measurable plans and adequate provisions for community participation.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2017). BROKEN PROMISES. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/HPA-Report-web.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. BROKEN PROMISES. 2017. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/HPA-Report-web.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=BROKEN PROMISES |date=October 2017 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/HPA-Report-web.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights2017broken, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{BROKEN PROMISES}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/HPA-Report-web.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }