The Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy will from (31 October – 4 November) conduct an oversight visit to Mpumalanga. 
 
The committee will, among other things, assess poor air quality in provinces responsible for power generation, the challenges experienced by local government in monitoring air quality, along with the challenges experienced by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DMRE) relating to ageing infrastructure and the need to generate sufficient electricity for the country. 
 
Regarding air quality management, the DMRE and the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment are under increasing pressure to remedy the poor air quality of the Highveld Priority Area, while the country faces increasing load-shedding. 
 
The committee needs a briefing on this challenging situation. Regarding the capacity of local government to fulfil its constitutional mandate, the committee is concerned by challenges related to effectively monitoring air quality in municipalities, as well as their inability to implement their Paris Agreement commitments. 
 
Regarding waste management, the committee is concerned about the pollution in South African rivers caused by dilapidated municipal infrastructure, and its impact on natural resources.