Heavy breathing: Mpumalanga community speaks out as study links Sasol pollution to 1,000 deaths

A recent report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) has revealed that pollution from Sasol's Secunda plant in Mpumalanga is linked to roughly 1,000 deaths and 260 new cases of childhood asthma annually. This has created a R19-billion burden on society, according to the study titled "The hidden cost of coal-to-liquids in South Africa."

Dineo Hoffman, a resident of Embalenhle who has lived near Sasol Secunda for over 28 years, shared her experience with the report. She spoke about how living under the shadow of the industrial plant made her believe that her health issues were normal. However, after failing the Rehabilitation and Functional Assessment (RFA) test required for employment at Sasol, she realized that she had been unwell for a while due to increased air pollution levels.

The study also revealed that children and infants are disproportionately affected by pollution generated by the plant. Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe more air per kilogram of body weight than adults, putting them at severe short- and long-term health risks. In 2024 alone, approximately 1,000 people died prematurely from exposure to emissions from Sasol Secunda, which also caused 260 new cases of childhood asthma and 1,100 pre-term births annually.

One tragic story highlighted in the report is that of Sharon Mbonani, who gave birth to her first child at a local hospital in Secunda. While her initial pregnancy was normal, her son passed away shortly after birth due to unknown causes. When her second child was born three years later, he started showing signs of health problems, such as a throat infection that worsened over time. After consulting with specialists, it was discovered that the child had been exposed to high emissions levels in their area of residence.

South Africa, like other countries, has Minimum Emissions Standards (MES) set by the government to safeguard public health. However, loopholes and leniency in the legal framework have allowed industries, such as Sasol and Eskom, to exceed these standards. In March 2020, the government doubled the allowable sulphur dioxide limit for older coal combustion installations, which includes both Sasol Secunda and Eskom's power plants.