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ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
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ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF GREATER JOHANNESBURG
- The Environmental quality is of unacceptable levels in the whole area from east
to west through the Johannesburg CBD. Bad total pollution levels are found, due to water
pollution from bad pH and copper levels in industrial effluent from Industria West and
Selby, eastwards to Benrose and Denver. High bacterial contents are also found in the
water due to blocked sewers in informal settlements and in the city, especially in the
north that is very densely populated. Air pollution is also bad due to industries, bus
commuter ways and the converging of vehicles in the city. Dust from mine dumps to the
south of the city also increases the air pollution. Land pollution is bad due to CBD
activities, as well as the illegal dumping of waste, littering by informal traders and
businesses, non-maintained sewage pipes, and the large amounts of refuse due to
overcrowding in the city. Noise pollution also contributes to the total pollution levels,
due to the small spaces between the roads in the city and the large amount of vehicular
activity together with the industries. High solid waste and wastewater levels are also
found in the city, due to a lack of services, industrial effluent, informal traders,
overcrowding and badly maintained and overflown sewer systems. Urban poverty is also a
great problem in the inner city, due to the informal and illegal migration into the area.
A lot of parks and historical building in the CBD are badly maintained, and there is
definitely a lack of open space. Mining activity to the south of the CBD also created a
lot of wasted rather than open space. Further south water in the Klip River is badly
polluted due to the mining zone, and big industries like City Deep, Aeroton, Booysens and
Electron. The industries, mining belt, vehicle emissions and the burning of coal and other
fossil fuels like petroleum, leads to air pollution in the area. There are aso very few
visits to clinics per mont in this area. People in the area have mostly respiratory
diseases related to air pollution. Gastro-intestinal diseases related to bad water
quality, can also be seen in the area. There is a definate lack of environmental health
advice and education in the inner city.
- Environmental quality is much higher in the north of GJ, with high qualities
around the northern suburbs of Sandton, Randburg and Roodepoort. To the east of Sandton,
in Alexandra, quality again decreases with high total pollution levels, mainly due to bad
water quality from industrial effluent and bad sanitation. The Wynberg/Kew industrial area
also causes bad air and noise pollution, together with the car, bus, taxi and train routes
in and out of the area. Settlements around Alexandra cause high levels of litter, which
combined with bad sanitation, sewage and refuse services, causes bad land pollution.
Alexandra is the most densely populated low-rise informal settlement in South Africa, with
about 1 person per 29m2. Most of these people are without access to formal
housing or employment, which leads to further bad environmental quality. Little space for
expansion, and the resistance of the Sandton residents to relocation, aggravates the
problems in the area. Due to the large and dense population and poverty problems, open
space and conservation issues are low on the list. Respiratory, ear, nose and throat
diseases heads the list of diseases related to air pollution and the home environment to
the east of Sandton. A combination of diarrhoea, vomiting, other gastro intestinal and
opthomological diseases, are high in the area due to bad water quality.There also seems to
be a lack of visitsto clinics per month in Alaxandra.
- In the far north of GJ quality also decreases towards the Diepsloot and
Zevenfontein settlements. Smoke from excessive coal burning causes air pollution, with no
refuse removal, bad sewer systems and a lack of service provision leading to land
pollution. Noise levels are high along the N14 national road, and water pollution also
contributes to bad total pollution levels in these areas. Irregular services further leads
to solid waste and wastewater problems. This further expands into poverty problems and
vicious cycle of environmental degradation and bad environmental and human health quality.
- South and west of Roodepoort environmental quality is much lower than to the
north. Water pollution is bad from the Lea Glen industrial area, while industries, mining
dust, CBD activities and excessive coal burning in settlements like Davidsonville
contributes to air pollution. Land pollution includes industrial and residential waste, as
well as high litter and refuse levels in the Davidsonville settlement. The industries,
mining and CBD activities and vehicles, combined with the small distances between roads,
leads to noise pollution. Fewer parks, open space and conservation areas, than in the
north, also decreases environmental quality.
- Environmental quality is also quite low in and around Soweto, with high water
pollution levels due to bad industrial effluent from areas like Devland, as well as bad
sewage pollution from the informal settlements in the area. Air pollution is bad due to
excessive amounts of coal burning taking place in the whole of Soweto, together with
industries, the Orlando Power Station, untarred roads, refuse burning and poverty.
Littering, unmanaged waste and illegal dumping causes land pollution, while noise mainly
emanates from the Devland industrial area, the Orlando power station and vehicles entering
and leaving the area on a daily basis. High poverty and pollution levels mainly exist in
the Freedom Park, Goldev, Mofolo, Diepkloof, Nancefield and Protea South areas. Total
waste problems also exist in these areas due to a lack of services. In the south solid
waste and sewerage from the Slovo Park area as well as industrial effluent from the
Nancefield area causes waste problems. There is a backlog of parks in Soweto and no open
space system exists. Conservation also needs to be upgraded in the area. Very high numbers
of diseases related to bacteriological water pollution can be seen to the south of
Soweto.There are also many diseases related to air pollution in the south.
- Environmental quality is slightly better around Lenasia, to the south of Soweto.
Exemptions are found to the east of Lenasia, where excessive coal burning in settlements
like Thembelihle causes air pollution. Inadequate refuse removal and illegal dumping leads
to land pollution. Southeast of Lenasia in the Lawley settlement, a lack of refuse and
sewage services as well as illegal dumping also causes land pollution and waste problems.
Poverty levels are much higher in these areas than in Lenasia itself.
- Environmental quality is of a relative standard in Ennerdale, but decreases
southwards. To the southeast of Ennerdale in the Weilers Farm area, southwest in the
Poortjie area and the whole of Orange Farm in the south, poverty levels are high. Low-cost
housing and low incomes describe these relatively remote southwestern areas. Moderate to
excessive coal burning and dust from gravel roads and open/farm land, causes air
pollution. Litter, illegal dumping and irregular refuse removal causes bad land pollution
in Poortjie. Noise levels are also high along national and major roads in the vicinity of
Poortjie and Orange Farm. A backlog of parks exists in these areas, with a lack of quality
open space and conservation areas.To north of Ennerdale diseases related to solid waste
services, like diarrhoea and vomiting, is very high.
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