Mapped: Where coal pollution hits hardest in South Africa

This week in the Energy Report, we look at a three-part series by Daily Maverick journalists Ethan Van Diemen and Lieke Heuvelmans , which uses geo-journalism to show how coal pollution affects communities in Mpumalanga, particularly the township of Thubelihle.

Part 1: Reporting from SA’s most polluted town

Thubelihle, located near Eskom’s Kriel and Matla power stations, is one of the communities hardest hit by air pollution from coal-fired power and mining.

• Residents describe widespread respiratory illnesses.
• The area is served by just one under-resourced clinic for over 20,000 people.
• Despite being next to energy infrastructure, many households don’t have electricity and rely on coal for heating and cooking.

It’s here that our geo-journalism investigation reveals how pollution settles hardest where people are most vulnerable.

🔗 Read Part 1

Part 2: A visual portrait

Through a photo essay, the second piece captures daily life in Thubelihle:

• Children play in dust-filled streets, and ward councillor Sipho Maseko reflects on how the environment has affected his own family and neighbours.

🔗 View Part 2

Part 3 – How we mapped SA’s most at-risk communities

In the final part, Lieke Heuvelmans explains how the mapping and geospatial analysis were conducted.  

Using Google Earth Engine, Daily Maverick layered satellite-derived pollution exposure data with indicators of vulnerability, including poverty, lack of healthcare access and proximity to emissions sources, to identify one of South Africa’s most at-risk communities.

🔗 Read Part 3

📌 If you work in energy, environment, health or policy, or know someone who does, consider sharing this reporting. It offers a grounded look at how pollution, inequality and infrastructure intersect on the ground.