On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the annual Priority Area Summit addressed several critical themes. These included enhancing technical capabilities among government bodies and relevant stakeholders operating under the new priority area regulatory framework. Another focus was evaluating insights gained from the execution of the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan. Furthermore, the summit aimed to apply these insights to improve readiness for the Vaal Triangle Airshed Priority Area and the Waterberg-Bojanala priority areas.
Discussions at the summit also centered on the rollout of the recently introduced National Dust Control Regulations, designed to transition dust management from a reactive stance to a proactive one. These deliberations are vital, intending to bolster implementation capacity, enhance accountability, and hasten tangible improvements in air quality management.
Although the Summit recognized significant strides made through upgraded monitoring networks, better planning, and expanded stakeholder involvement, numerous communities still contend with unacceptable levels of air pollution. Concerns voiced by communities regarding emissions from industrial operations, household fuel combustion, transport, waste incineration, and other pollution sources are duly noted. Furthermore, we acknowledge the worries articulated by civil society organizations concerning the speed of implementation, transparency, adherence, and accountability. The government treats these issues with gravity, and the Summit offered a chance to progress from merely pinpointing challenges to formulating practical and actionable solutions.
My message remains unequivocal: the government cannot tackle air pollution issues in isolation. Industry, civil society, academic institutions, and local communities all have significant contributions to make.
I further acknowledge and value the assistance the government has gained via its collaboration with the Clean Air Fund. This philanthropic body has been a partner to the department since 2024 and has provided backing for our Priority Area Summits throughout that period. In 2025, the Clean Air Fund deployed 200 affordable air quality sensors across Gauteng, North West, and the Free State, and is now collaborating with the department to set up more sensors nationwide. The organization also assists municipalities and the department by means of public outreach and community education initiatives, alongside bolstering the creation of air quality management plans. Moreover, the Clean Air Fund has lent its support to research bodies like the South African Medical Research Council for studies that aid the government in comprehending the health effects of air pollution on communities. Such evidence reinforces the argument for immediate measures to tackle pollution in Priority Areas.
These collaborations are revealing valuable prospects and empowering the government to expedite programs formerly hindered by scarce resources. We urge additional stakeholders to pinpoint chances for cooperation and to collaborate with the government via public-private partnerships, thereby fortifying our joint endeavors to enhance air quality.
To conclude, I wish to underscore that our communities possess a right to be informed about the air they breathe. The increasing significance of citizen science and local environmental monitoring is acknowledged. Globally, communities are actively engaging in environmental observation and gathering data. Via the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS), the government persistently works to enhance public access to air quality data and bolster environmental transparency. Systems have also been upgraded, allowing the public to report air pollution occurrences and grievances online, which facilitates swifter responses and heightened accountability.
Nevertheless, communities should not merely be informed; they must also be empowered to engage meaningfully in choices impacting their health and surroundings. For this purpose, the department plans to organize community air quality discussions throughout South Africa, particularly within all Priority Areas. We intend to broaden public awareness and educational campaigns concerning air quality and pollution. The number of Air Quality Dialogues nationwide will be augmented, and information will be conveyed in all official languages to ensure communities are thoroughly informed and capable of participation. The Summit additionally resolved to formulate a distinct and actionable plan aimed at bolstering community involvement in endeavors to lessen pollution and enhance air quality. I thus urge all South Africans to unite with the government, industry, and civil society in addressing air pollution and fostering healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable communities for both present and future generations.
*Swarts is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
