South Africa may soon declare its largest city, Johannesburg, and its capital, Pretoria, as priority zones for tackling air pollution, Bloomberg reports, citing Patience Gwaze, the country’s national air quality officer.
Gwaze made the announcement at a seminar on Monday, saying that the move is being considered to address the growing concerns over air quality in these densely populated areas.
Johannesburg, home to some 5 million people, and Tshwane, the municipality encompassing Pretoria, could join the list of existing priority zones designated for air pollution control.
These zones were first established about two decades ago, focusing on regions south and east of the cities where the majority of South Africa’s coal-fired power and petrochemical generation takes place.
The declaration of a priority zone allows for increased focus on air pollution monitoring and enforcement in those areas. This includes stricter regulations and more rigorous inspections to ensure compliance with air quality standards.
The government is expected to make a formal announcement on the topic in the coming months.
