Gauteng stench likely to have come from different sources, says department
The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) says the stench that hanged over the air in different parts of Gauteng last month, was most likely a combination of elevated levels of sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide coming from different sources.
Last month, the Department, along with the Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga, visited the Sasol Secunda Plant to check on operations which were believed to have been the possible source of the sulphur stink in parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
However, the inspection found that the release of the sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide at the plant were within the approved limits.
Spokesperson for the Department, Albi Modise, says at this stage the DEFF and Gert Sibanda Municipality cannot say definitively what the major source/s of the air pollution was.
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“The DEFF and Gert Sibanda Municipality suspect that the stench experienced over parts of Gauteng may have been the result of the cumulative impact from a number of sources in the surrounding areas.
“It has therefore been recommended that other sources that could have contributed to the odour experienced in Gauteng also be investigated.
“These include power plants and waste water works that also emit hydrogen sulphide,” says Modise.
A probe into the stench will continue and the findings will be made available once completed.
