BREATHE OUT: Human Rights Commission asked to probe manganese pollution choking Nelson Mandela Bay

Residents of South End demand urgent action to relocate manganese operations amid alarming dust pollution levels linked to serious health risks in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The Democratic Alliance has asked the South African Human Rights Commission to investigate whether manganese pollution in Nelson Mandela Bay is violating residents’ constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health.

DA councillor Annette Lovemore wrote to the commission on 10 June after a municipal report revealed excessive dust levels around the Port Elizabeth harbour and Markman industrial area, questioning why authorities had failed to bring the pollution under control despite years of complaints and previous surveys showing dangerous levels of contamination.

“How is it possible that operations responsible for dust production at levels such as those quoted continue?” she asked.

A report on air quality brought to the economic development committee last week, with samples taken at the PE Harbour and at Markman, where manganese companies operate, shows that the local airshed has reached a state of saturation with dust deposition rates far exceeding the non-residential limit.

This can cause health challenges such as neurological damage and respiratory diseases.

The move comes as South-End residents have launched a petition calling on the municipality and Transnet to urgently protect public health and accelerate the relocation of manganese operations from the Port Elizabeth harbour to Coega.

Residents noted that Transnet had been planning to relocate its manganese operations to the Coega Industrial Development Zone since 2016, but that the target date had since shifted to 2031.

“The municipality is legally required to enforce its by-laws, environmental health standards, and zoning rules, and to ensure compliance with national air quality laws and international pollution control guidelines,” the petition reads.

“Despite this, manganese operations at the PE Harbour continue to affect surrounding communities without sufficient enforcement or protection measures.”

The petition states that “dangerous” manganese dust affects air quality and health, pollution settles on homes and public spaces, heavy truck traffic damages roads and increases safety risks.

Due to ongoing exposure and long-term health concerns, the residents demand that:

The report states that initial complaints about air pollution and infrastructure damage were received in June 2020.

However, despite ongoing compliance monitoring and enforcement actions – which include the issuance of nine compli