Mokonyane’s deadly law breach could kill thousands in Mpumalanga, South Africa

13 July, 2019

Arnot Power Station, Middelburg, South Africa (coal plant). Photo: Gerhard Roux.

Johannesburg (IOL): Doubling air pollution standards for sulphur dioxide (SO2), proposed by former environmental affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane in May, would cause thousands of deaths on Mpumalanga’s Highveld.

This is according to a study conducted by Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at Greenpeace’s global air pollution unit, which shows how, over time, an estimated 3300 premature deaths would be caused by doubling the SO2 standard, as a result of increased risk of lower respiratory infections, increased risk of stroke and increased risk of death from diabetes - with around 1000 of these premature deaths estimated in Gauteng.

Myllyvirta’s study, which focuses only on the health impacts as a consequence of doubling the limit for SO2 emissions from power plants in South Africa, estimates that 950 of the 3300 premature deaths over the years to come, will be due to increased risk of lower respiratory infections, including in young children. Read more