The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development (EARD) Portfolio Committee is convening a two-day Pollution Summit aimed at turning growing concern over air, water and environmental degradation into practical action.
Seen Here: From oversight to action. The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Portfolio Committee is bringing key stakeholders together for a two-day Pollution Summit focused on restoring the province’s air, water and environmental integrity. The summit seeks to turn concern into practical solutions and strengthen collaboration to protect Gauteng’s environmental resources for generations to come. Photo Credit: Supplied
The summit, taking place on 19 and 20 September 2026 at Emperors Palace Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, is being held under the theme “Restoring Air, Water and Environmental Integrity in Gauteng: From Oversight to Action.”
Led by EARD Portfolio Committee Chairperson Honourable Jaco Mulder, the summit brings together stakeholders with expertise and experience in pollution management, environmental governance and the protection of Gauteng’s natural resources.
The initiative comes as the province continues to face significant environmental pressures. The Gauteng Provincial Legislature has described Gauteng as facing some of the country’s highest levels of air and water pollution, with the summit intended to create a platform for government, industry and communities to work towards practical solutions.
The focus on moving “from oversight to action” is central to the summit’s purpose. Rather than limiting discussions to the identification of environmental challenges, the EARD Portfolio Committee wants stakeholders to contribute expertise towards interventions that can be implemented to address pollution and environmental degradation.
The province’s own environmental reporting has identified a deteriorating environmental outlook, with population growth, unsustainable development practices and human activities contributing to pressure on air quality, water resources and living environments. The report has also highlighted concerns around the performance of wastewater treatment works and the resulting social and environmental pressures.
Air quality remains another significant concern. Previous Gauteng environmental reporting has noted challenges in meeting national ambient air-quality standards and has called for stronger coordination between provincial authorities and municipalities, including improved monitoring, emissions control and compliance with atmospheric emission licences.
Against this backdrop, the Pollution Summit provides an opportunity to examine how different spheres of government, municipalities, communities, industry and environmental stakeholders can strengthen collaboration.
The discussions are expected to place particular emphasis on protecting Gauteng’s environmental resources for current and future generations, while strengthening inclusive environmental governance and accountability.
For the EARD Portfolio Committee, the summit also represents an extension of its oversight responsibilities. The Gauteng Legislature’s broader mandate includes holding provincial departments accountable for delivering on commitments and addressing challenges affecting residents.
The two-day programme is scheduled to run from 09:00 to 16:00 on both days, with members of the media invited to attend.
With Gauteng’s environmental challenges cutting across municipal boundaries and affecting communities, infrastructure, public health and economic activity, the summit is expected to place emphasis on coordinated responses rather than isolated interventions.
Ultimately, the test will be whether the discussions can translate into clearly defined actions, stronger cooperation and measurable progress in restoring the quality of the province’s air, water and wider environment.
Summit details
Dates: 19–20 September 2026
Time: 09:00–16:00 daily
Venue: Emperors Palace Conference Centre, Ekurhuleni
Theme: Restoring Air, Water and Environmental Integrity in Gauteng: From Oversight to Action
