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Environmental NGOs @groundWorkSA & @CentreEnvRights has launched high court proceedings against @environmentza Minister Nomvula Mokonyane & President @CyrilRamaphosa to set aside govt plan to double the amount of harmful pollutant SO2 that @Eskom & @SasolSA are allowed to emit. 
@groundWorkSA @CentreEnvRights @environmentza @CyrilRamaphosa @eskom @SasolSA The weakening of SO2 emission standards gazetted by the @environmentza would allow all coal-fired boilers to emit double their previously-allowed SO2 pollution from 1 April 2020. This includes the already heavily-polluted Vaal, Highveld and Waterberg Priority Areas.
@groundWorkSA @CentreEnvRights @environmentza @CyrilRamaphosa @eskom @SasolSA South Africa's emission standards for dangerous sulphur dioxide (SO2), after being weakened by @environmentza, are now approximately 10 times weaker than the equivalent standards in India and about 28 times weaker than the standards in China.
@groundWorkSA @CentreEnvRights @environmentza @CyrilRamaphosa @eskom @SasolSA The unlawful amendment of South Africa's minimum emission standards (MES) by the doubling of the SO2 standards – from 500 mg/Nm3 to 1000 mg/Nm3 – was done by @environmentza without first publishing the proposed doubling of the SO2 standard for comment as the law requires.
@groundWorkSA @CentreEnvRights @environmentza @CyrilRamaphosa @eskom @SasolSA If the court agrees with groundWork, big SO2 emitters like @Eskom_SA & @SasolSA will have to act immediately to reduce their pollution, which will require significant capital expenditure, or they could face both criminal and civil action for violating the law.
