In response to formal parliamentary questions (see here) submitted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) regarding the operational status of the province’s six air quality monitoring stations, it has been revealed that none of the 6 air-quality monitoring stations under the province are operational, and remedial action will only be undertaken on 3 stations in the next financial year.
It is equally alarming that the department has no data on the health impacts of poor air quality on communities. It is to be noted that this collapse was allowed to happen under the neglectful eyes of the previous administration.
What is particularly disturbing is that many communities across KZN are at the brunt of poor air quality and report significant health impacts. It is deeply concerning that former governments did not address the issue.
KZN EDTEA revealed that the stations under the province’s purview are located in Amajuba (Amcor Dam), Ilembe (Stanger), King Cetshwayo (KZN Agriculture Extension Office), Ugu (Marburg Secondary School), Umgungundlovu (Northdale Hospital), and Uthukela (Drakensberg Secondary School). The data from these stations, when operational, are accessed on the South African Air Quality Information Systems (SAAQIS) website.
According to EDTEA’s response, turnaround times to fix the above stations are staggered and deeply concerning: Amajuba, Ilembe and Ugu stations are only budgeted for repair in the 2025/26 financial year, Umgungundlovu and Uthukela will only become functional in 2026/27, and the remaining districts—Umzinyathi, Umkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo, Harry Gwala, and Zululand—are expected to receive monitoring infrastructure between 2026 and 2029.
Adding to the concern, the department confirmed it has not commissioned any studies or assessments on the health impacts of poor air quality on communities. This historical neglect is in direct contradiction to their constitutional duty to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all residents of KZN. Instead, EDTEA stated that health impact assessments form part of future activities under the recently approved Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP).
The DA finds it unacceptable that the provincial government remains unaware of the extent of harm caused by air pollution while simultaneously delaying meaningful intervention for years to come. Without data, there can be no accountability—and without accountability, communities will continue to suffer needlessly.
Given the dire situation, the DA calls on EDTEA to fast-track the following:
- The urgent repair and recommissioning of the 3 air quality monitoring stations earmarked for remediation in this financial year.
- The immediate implementation of the KZN Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), approved in 2024, and a transparent implementation timeline for the AQMP with measurable deliverables.
- Begin interim community-level air quality assessments through mobile monitoring units;
- Immediately initiate health risk studies in known pollution hotspots;
- Prioritise emergency repairs and recommissioning of existing stations in the 2024/25 adjustment budget
Through the GPU, the DA will continue to monitor this issue closely and push for real-time air quality data to be made publicly available. We remain committed to ensuring clean air and environmental justice for all communities in KwaZulu-Natal.