South Africa: Election 2026 - Springs Air-Quality Monitor Offline As Residents Raise Pollution Concerns

South Africa's Springs town is grappling with poor air quality and residents raising concerns about pollution. The old mine dumps surrounding Slovo Park in the East Rand are causing issues as dust from the dumps blows into residents' homes on windy days, creating a strong, unpleasant smell. The City of Ekurhuleni confirms its Springs air-quality monitoring station is offline, as technical maintenance and calibration have not been done due to a lack of a specialist service provider. This station last reliably produced data in July 2026.

Residents, including Sarah Nkabinde and Sara Koto, have noticed health issues like coughing and chest pain, though they haven't sought medical help. The City of Ekurhuleni identifies operational and abandoned mine dumps as major sources of dust pollution, specifically in mining areas east and south of Springs. The City has not received complaints from Slovo Park residents about dust from the mine dumps.

Another issue is a strong smell that comes and goes, described by some as an acid or chemical-like smell, and by others as smelling like sewage or urine. The City attributes the smell to organic decomposition and chemical processes in regional wetlands. However, a separate pollution episode in March was linked to hydrogen sulphide, which can cause respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, and breathing difficulties.

The City has deployed two lower-cost air-quality sensors in nearby KwaThema and Daveyton East to assess regional pollution risks while the Springs station is unavailable. The City monitors compliance with emission standards for industries in the Springs region, but does not conduct standalone epidemiological risk studies for individual neighborhoods like Slovo Park.