Activists scale statues to draw attention to deaths caused by Eskom’s air pollution

Johannesburg, 14 March 2019 — Activists from Greenpeace Africa scaled several iconic statues across Johannesburg and Pretoria this morning to demand action on air pollution. The activists fitted the statues with emergency gas masks to pressure the National Air Quality Officer to protect citizens’ right to clean air.

Famous statues of the Mother with Child at Bree Taxi Rank, Brenda Fassie in Newtown, the statue of the Miner outside the Chamber of Mines, and the statue of Chief Tshwane outside Pretoria City Hall have been given protection against dirty air by environmental activists. In total, four well-known statues across Johannesburg and Pretoria can be seen wearing masks this morning[1]. Existing research points to thousands of premature deaths per year in South Africa’s coal regions[2]. New Greenpeace research reveals for the first time that air pollution from Eskom’s coal-fired power stations also has significant impacts on the people living in Gauteng.

“If these statues were real people they would be breathing dangerously polluted air. In total, Eskom’s coal-fired power plant emissions are responsible for a shocking 420 premature deaths per year in Gauteng[3]. We need to ensure that Eskom complies with our Minimum Emission Standards to protect people’s health,” said Melita Steele, Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Africa.

Credit: Shayne Robinson, Greenpeace Africa 2019

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Famous statues of the Mother with Child at Bree Taxi Rank, Brenda Fassie in Newtown, the statue of the Miner outside the Chamber of Mines, and the statue of Chief Tshwane outside Pretoria City Hall have been given protection against dirty air by environmental activists. In total, four well-known statues across Johannesburg and Pretoria can be seen wearing masks this morning[1]. Existing research points to thousands of premature deaths per year in South Africa’s coal regions[2]. New Greenpeace research reveals for the first time that air pollution from Eskom’s coal-fired power stations also has significant impacts on the people living in Gauteng.

“In response to the air pollution crisis in South Africa, Greenpeace Africa has launched a Clean Air petition today, calling on the National Air Quality Officer to ensure that Eskom complies with air quality legislation[5]. Even one premature death from air pollution is one too many. We have to act now to protect our health, and the health of our children, who are even more vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution. Clean air is not a privilege; it is a constitutional right for all South Africans,” ended Steele.

Credit: Shayne Robinson, Greenpeace Africa 2019

Notes to the editor:

1. For high-resolution copies of the photos please email [email protected]
2. The review by Dr Holland and Dr Spadaro of Eskom’s health impact assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis can be found here.
3. These impacts break down into 140 premature deaths in Johannesburg, 120 in Tshwane, 120 in Ekurhuleni, 20 in Sedibeng and 20 in West Rand. This research has revealed that the power plants with the largest health impacts on Gauteng are Medupi and Matimba, due to the prevailing wind direction being from north and northeast. The research can be found here.
4. The information related to the global NO2 map can be found here.
5. The petition can be found here.

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Credit: Shayne Robinson, Greenpeace Africa, 2019

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Credit: Shayne Robinson, Greenpeace Africa, 2019

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Credit: Ilze Wessels, Greenpeace Africa, 2019