The WHO has urged South Africa to adopt stronger air quality standards aligned to global guidelines and accelerate a just energy transition through clean energy, sustainable transport and safe household cooking, among other measures, with studies having shown that the country has the fourth-highest number of deaths linked to particulate matter pollution on the continent.
TimesLIVE reports that air pollution claims 26 000 South African lives prematurely every year, making it one of the country’s deadliest yet least visible public health threats, according to the Department of Health, which last week commemorated World Environmental Health Day in Ekurhuleni.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi called air pollution a “silent killer” that drives severe health problems and premature deaths without being immediately visible.
“According to the South African Medical Research Council, the most vulnerable are children and the elderly… The tiny particles we breathe daily don’t just irritate our lungs, they are silent drivers of non-communicable diseases, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory conditions and even cancers,” he said, adding that clean air was a human rights imperative.
Globally, the WHO estimates that 7m people die prematurely every year from air pollution, with Africa accounting for 1.1m of those deaths.
South Africa has the fourth-highest number of deaths linked to particulate matter pollution on the continent, with nearly 100% of the population breathing air that exceeds WHO guideline levels.
Dr Kevin Makadzange, programme management officer for WHO South Africa, said children are disproportionately affected, and that unsafe water, poor sanitation, hazardous chemicals and climate change compound the risks, especially for communities already battling poverty and weak health systems.
Regulations under pressure
South Africa’s air pollution is governed by the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act of 2004, which sets emission standards and requires municipalities to draw up air quality management plans. But enforcing regulations remains inconsistent, particularly in hotspots like Mpumalanga’s Highveld, where coal-fired power stations dominate.
Motsoaledi admitted that budget shortfalls hamper efforts to combat pollution, and that SA has only 4 000 environmental health practitioners, with no replacements for the 100 who retired in 2019.
“Without enough skilled staff on the ground, and the right resources in place, our efforts to prevent disease will always fall short,” he said.
He added that a ministerial advisory committee on foodborne illnesses had been created to strengthen surveillance, improve risk communication and advance public education.
The WHO has urged South Africa to adopt five priorities over the next two years, including strengthening monitoring systems by integrating air, water and waste data with health outcomes; investing in climate-resilient health facilities with clean power, safe water and proper waste management; and protecting children from toxic exposures by enforcing lead paint standards and tackling legacy pollution
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