Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa on Friday declared the Waterberg area a national priority area under section 18 of the Air Quality Act No 39, of 2004, within the National Environmental Management legislation.

The gazetted declaration covered the Bojanala district, in the North West province, which included the Moses Kotane, Rustenburg and Madibeng municipalities, as well as the Waterberg district, in Limpopo, comprising the Thabazimbi, Modimolle, Mogalakwena, Bela-Bela, Mookgopong and Lephalale municipalities.

The Water and Environmental Affairs departments aimed to provide regulatory certainty to ensure future sustainable development in the area and maintain national ambient air quality standards.

The Minister also aimed to prevent and mitigate potential trans-boundary air quality impact between South Africa and Botswana.
 

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