By Selloane Ntshonyane
- A sulphur or rotten egg smell spread across Johannesburg last week, reported in Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Fourways and Parktown.
- City officials say weather conditions carried pollution from Highveld and Mpumalanga industries, not from sources inside Johannesburg.
A strong sulphur-like smell spread across several parts of Johannesburg last week, with many areas reporting a rotten egg odour.
The smell was noticed in Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Fourways and Parktown.
The City of Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department said it received many reports about the odour and began investigating where it came from.
Johannesburg has six air quality monitoring stations that measure pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ozone. According to the department, the type of smell reported is commonly linked to hydrogen sulphide.
City officials carried out field surveys across the affected areas. They confirmed that the smell was widespread and not limited to one area, which ruled out a local source inside the city.
The City believes the odour was caused by pollution travelling long distances due to current weather conditions.
These conditions allow polluted air from the Highveld Priority Area and industrial zones in Mpumalanga to move into Johannesburg. These areas include power stations and petrochemical plants.
The department said similar sulphur related smells have been recorded over the past five years. These usually occur between January and March.
Because of these repeated incidents, hydrogen sulphide monitoring equipment has been installed at the Buccleuch and Alexandra air quality monitoring stations.
The City stressed that Johannesburg does not have major heavy industries. Officials said all industries operating in the city are licensed and inspected regularly.
The City said it will continue working with other authorities to identify the source of the pollution.
Pictured above: Johannesburg skyline.
Image source: City of Johannesburg
