South Africa’s Vaal Triangle region, just 30 miles from Johannesburg, is home to 1.7 million people living amid some of the world’s most dangerous pollution. Industrial plants in the area, including steel mills, power plants, and petrochemical facilities, are emitting harmful toxins at alarming levels. The pollution is causing premature deaths and respiratory diseases, highlighting the impact of the reliance on steel, oil, and coal on human health.
Despite offering much-needed employment opportunities in a country where one in three people are unemployed, these industrial plants are pumping out emissions that are making Vereeniging, a city in the region, one of the most polluted in the world. The South African government has designated the Vaal Triangle as a priority area for lowering air pollution, but progress has been slow.
Companies like Eskom Holdings and Sasol Ltd. have been resistant to installing required equipment to reduce emissions, citing cost and space constraints. However, new pollution limits set to come into effect in 2025 are expected to force these companies to comply. Activists have also sued these companies and the government for breaching the constitutional right to clean air.
Residents like Portia Mofokeng, who live close to these industrial facilities, suffer from asthma and other health issues attributed to pollution. The lack of opposition to pollution in the community, due to the reliance on these industries for jobs, presents a significant challenge in addressing the pollution crisis in the region. Despite some efforts by companies to reduce emissions, pollution levels remain high, exacerbating health problems for residents.
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