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Ten thousand people a year die from health conditions linked to air pollution in Mpumalanga Highveld - a heavily industrialised area of South Africa which is home to a large number of coal-fired power stations and plants, a recent report by the Department of Environmental Affairs found.

In a bid to reduce these figures, the 'deadly air' court case has been brought by environmental groups, who say the pollution in the area east of Johannesburg must be reduced through criminal proceedings against the companies involved. Government officials argued that things can't change overnight.

Sheree Bega, environment reporter for the Mail and the Guardian newspaper, has been covering the case, and she explains the nature of the charges and the role of the coal industry in deaths from pollution in the area.

Photo: The Kendal Power Station located in eMalahleni, part of the Highveld region in South Africa Credit: Getty Images