Gauteng Tackles Air Pollution in West Rand Communities
Gauteng’s Environment MEC Ewan Botha launched a groundbreaking air quality monitoring initiative in Mohlakeng (West Rand District), bringing low-cost sensor technology to communities that have historically been excluded from pollution monitoring networks.
The Air Quality Low-Cost Sensors Community Outreach Programme, conducted in partnership with the West Rand District Municipality and the Clean Air Fund, represents a significant shift in how the province approaches environmental monitoring in vulnerable areas.
Following through on his commitment made in a press briefing earlier this month, MEC Botha said the province operates 31 air quality monitoring stations, with 15 currently operational. He said the government will out 124 low-cost air quality sensors to expand monitoring and improve access to real-time data.
The programme specifically targets old mining towns and low-income settlements, where air quality concerns have long affected residents but monitoring infrastructure has been limited or non-existent.
“Clean air is a shared responsibility and a fundamental right,” Botha said during his keynote address at the launch event.
Unlike traditional reference-grade analysers, the low-cost sensors are flexible and cost-effective devices that can create dense monitoring networks adapted to local conditions. This technology enables faster data collection and provides communities with real-time information about the air they breathe.
The initiative addresses a critical gap in environmental justice. Historically, communities most affected by poor air quality have had little involvement in monitoring efforts and limited access to data interpretation tools, effectively excluding them from decision-making processes about their own environmental health.
The programme aims to change this through three key strategies: expanding monitoring coverage to previously unmonitored areas, providing open access to local air quality data, and equipping residents with the knowledge to interpret information and advocate for clean air policies.
The Clean Air Fund’s support has been instrumental in making the programme possible, highlighting the importance of partnership and innovation in tackling air pollution challenges.
The outreach event served as a platform to engage stakeholders and mobilise community participation, reinforcing Gauteng’s commitment to ensuring healthy air quality for current and future generations.
