Mpumalanga has been significantly impacted by the devastating effects of climate change, according to Nompumelelo Hlophe, MEC of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environmental Affairs. These effects have undermined government efforts to build infrastructure and reduce backlogs.
“We witnessed disasters in Nkomazi, Dr JS Moroka, Victor Khanye in the Nkangala district, and other areas due to changes in weather patterns caused by climate change,” said the MEC during a provincial stakeholder consultative workshop on gender mainstreaming in climate change, held at Nkangala District Municipality in Middelburg on July 4, 2024.
“They damaged our infrastructure, as you know that we are struggling in terms of implementing and building more infrastructure,” she added.
MEC Hlophe highlighted that climate change has pushed the province backward. ” We were taken 4 steps backwards. We had to address the challenges created by climate change,” she continued.
“These extreme weather events are likely to damage crops and infrastructure, posing severe threats to plants and animals, leading to poverty and displacement,” she warned.
She also emphasized the disproportionate impact of climate change on women. “While both men and women are affected, women are severely affected,” she noted.
“As Mpumalanga, being a province dependent on tourism and agriculture, we are most affected by climate change. Hence, we are reviewing the provincial climate change gender action plan,” she explained. “This review of the action plan will be crucial in ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economies and societies.”
Nkangala District Mayor Thomas Ngwenya reiterated the district municipality’s commitment to ensuring that mining companies and industries comply with air pollution emissions standards in the region.
“It is the district’s responsibility to monitor, control, and manage air quality,” Ngwenya stated. “We have a dedicated section that oversees the control, management, and monitoring of major industries in the region to ensure compliance with legislation. We have law enforcers to ensure that they [companies] do comply. In the event that they don’t comply, we issue heavy fines. We are not merciful where there is violation of environmental legislation.”
