SA’s Vaal triangle: Pollution’s tragic paradise

South Africa, a nation renowned for its diverse culture, extraordinary wildlife, and breathtaking scenery, harbours a dark secret within its borders: one of the most polluted places on earth. Just a mere 48 kilometres outside of Johannesburg lies the Vaal Triangle, a region that includes the cities of Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, and Sasolburg, home to approximately 1.7 million residents.

In Vanderbijlpark, the smoke from Africa’s biggest steel mill envelops the city, casting a hazy veil over the landscape. Nearby, the Lethabo coal power plant, ironically translating to “happiness,” releases ash and toxic sulfur dioxide into the air, further contributing to the region’s environmental woes. And in Sasolburg, a petrochemical plant adds to the toxic brew.

The level of harmful emissions in the area is so severe that Vereeniging, by some measures, is considered the most polluted city in the world. As Business Tech reports, “Vereeniging regularly registers the highest concentration of microscopic emissions known as PM2.5, according to Bloomberg Green analysis of data from nonprofit OpenAQ, which runs an open-source network of over 4,000 sensors monitoring particulate pollution worldwide.”

These invisible particles from pollution travel deep into the lungs, leading to a myriad of health issues, including cancers and cardiac problems. Many residents already suffer from respiratory diseases, and hundreds die premature deaths every year, a grim testament to the region’s environmental crisis.

While the South African government has acknowledged the severity of the situation, the difficulty in implementing change lies in the fact that these plants offer steady employment to many residents. As one expert aptly put it, “A green transition could be difficult if it ‘costs the livelihood of the workers who depend on old economy jobs.'”

The Vaal Triangle’s plight serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between economic development and environmental preservation, a challenge that extends far beyond South Africa’s borders. As the world grapples with the urgent need for sustainable solutions, the Vaal Triangle stands as a tragic utopia, where the pursuit of progress has come at a devastating cost to the environment and the well-being of its inhabitants.