IN MEMORIAM

Remembering the late Benton Pillay

The Clean Air Journal regrets the untimely passing of Benton Pillay. Benton was dedicated to the improvement of Air Quality in South Africa. Benton was actively involved in NACA for more than a decade and served as President of the Association from 2017 -2018. During his time leading the association he was a staunch supporter of the Clean Air Journal. Benton passed away suddenly in July 2021

He was a qualified Chemical Engineer who worked for many years in public and private enterprise in the field of air quality management. Benton was a founding member and a director at uMoya-NILU and a senior staff member at their Gauteng office. During his time at uMoya-NILU he was influential in the development of air quality management in South Africa this includes his involvement in air quality assessments, notably the Provincial Air Quality Monitoring Plans for the Western and Eastern Cape, the development of the Air Quality management plans for the Highveld and Waterberg Bojanala Priority Areas and the development of AQMPS for South African Ports. These plans and the assessments that went into them have guided air quality management in these areas. In addition, he was instrumental in the development of the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory System (NAEIS). From an observational aspect he was involved in the deployment and operation of a significant amount of ambient air quality observation infrastructure and stack sampling. Many of the current technicians developed under his tutelage.

We will remember Benton for his intellect and for being a great colleague and a friend, his stylish presence at the NACA conferences will be missed. He leaves behind his wife, Doreen, and his three children, Mishka, Liam and Luke, whom he loved very much. We extend our most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to Benton's family.