IN CONVERSATION WITH JADE MILLER

The Gauteng Legislature’s Pollution Summit has highlighted major challenges affecting the province’s ability to monitor, manage and reduce air pollution. Key concerns include inadequate funding, staff shortages, ageing and faulty monitoring infrastructure, power and maintenance problems, and weak environmental enforcement.
The Gauteng Department of Health says poor air quality can contribute to respiratory infections, asthma, chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular conditions, reduced lung function and premature death. Children, pregnant women, older people and communities living near industrial, mining and high-traffic areas are considered particularly vulnerable.