Climate activists have been blazing a trail in the past couple of months, asserting their valorous stances against environmental tyranny in our republic. To begin a new epoch, succeeding COP26, we must take a moment to reflect on a few milestones, under climate activism. To all the foot soldiers – civil society, faith-based organisations, the lawyers, NGOs, and pro-climate media, and also our courts – you all deserve plaudits for your camaraderie in standing up against the assault on our natural world and for reaffirming communities’ right to exist and self-regulate.
And the catalyst? It was the arrogant political and corporate stance we witnessed. It was the sheer bravado of elected leaders that really proved 2021 (and now even 2022) to be a year of snakes and ladders, where the climate action progress that should have been made by now, is being derailed. That’s why the biggest kudos, for the latter part of 2021, must go to those “Power of the People” coalitions who stood up against the Icarus moment brought by Shell and South Africa’s Grinch department, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and their planned 3D seismic survey on our Wild Coast, in their search for oil and gas. We salute this brave activism, which led to the high court to block the greedy ambitions of those willing to exploit the ocean.
But the story does not stop there.
Remember the power-barge (Karpowerships) deals that would have cost the taxpayer over R200 billion over a 20-year span? Here too, the people showed their power in another Icarus moment, standing together to reject these floating kettles.
“Nothing about us without us!” This was the slogan of activists and communities of Saldanha Bay, who protested the Gas Amendment Bill. Not only are they dissatisfied that they were not consulted about the Bill in the first place, but fear that the proposed industrial complex will destroy their livelihoods, affect the oceans and put small-scale fishermen out of business. Picketing outside the hearing, the messages to the DMRE were clear, they want “green energy now” and say no to oil and gas.
At the hearing, members of these communities emotively expressed their disapproval to the Bill. Many feel that government wants to keep poor people poor, while only advancing the interests of the upper class and the elite. Throughout the hearing, this permeating activist spirit kept rising, much to the visible disappointment of the parliamentary panel, who seemed to imagine that their underwhelming PowerPoint presentations of jobs, training, and a better future for the communities, away from their natural environment, would be received with excitement. But the theory of the gullibility of the people on environmental issues, was once again debunked.
Then, on the other side of the country, in the northern parts of Limpopo, communities are fighting for their right to say no to the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ). Activists and community members held pickets and other activities to make it clear that they denounce the proposed mega-polluting project. The Mulambwane community – who still live very closely to their ancient traditions – rejects the project. Not only is it a threat to their natural environment, but there are also risks of severe pollution and threats to already-scarce water sources. However, it was the call to remove their ancestral gravesites, as part of the development, that really outraged the community. Ultimately, the Chinese decided on a new investment strategy and I would like to think that the resistance from my fellow South Africans, had a lot to do with it.
In Johannesburg too, demonstrators outside Sasol headquarters in Sandton JHB, called for an end to fossil fuels. It was a peaceful demonstration, with various NGOs joining in to raise their voices against the petroleum giant. I was there too, shocked by the arrogant corporate attitude, where those in suits refused to meet with us to hear our plea. This was another wonderful day of solidarity. There were disability groups, faith-based organisations, and youth movements, all gathered for a common a cause.
South Africa’s energy sector grows increasingly contentious. Not only are the proposals for particularly high-cost items but the direction government seems to want to take us, is still on the high-carbon emissions and centralised energy path. Itis as though our government does not realise that we are in a climate emergency.
The recent suspension of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board’s public representative also put a spotlight on the inglorious, autocratic approach from the DMRE. While this suspension may have irked activists, media, and communities, it is the Minister’s assertion that an anti-nuclear person cannot serve on the NNR Board, that frustrated and confused many. Thankfully, our courts are functional, and under threat of an urgent court appearance to test the legality of the suspension, the DMRE settled before the court date. However, the discharge of the representative is still pending, and this story continues to unfold.
New Mantra
Photo: Andile Mlambo, doing a presentation regarding a Just Transition and the P4C, in Tembisa.
Communities have proved, yet again, that we are a connected species who very much care about the world we live in. We are not cohabiting with nature, but rather, we are spiritually bound to mother earth. In my community of Tembisa, we see some amazing responses to climate activism by businesses who are quickly turning to renewable energy. They are part of those leading the curve to the just transition. Between December to now, I know of at least two malls that have installed (or started to) solar PV panels. In my view, these are the heroic steps being taken by business to embrace the transformation and lead by example amidst our energy and climate crises. This also proves, yet again, that we are not merely cogs in government’s machines of propaganda. We are a thinking generation, and local businesses also embrace this notion of sovereignty in our energy.
More and more people are catching on to climate sovereignty independent from rent-a-crowd or political influence. As a member of Earthlife Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) activist group, I welcome the recent appointment of Daniel Mminele as head of the commission’s finance task team. Our PCC group – which has an intensive community education drive coming up over the next few weeks – will also monitor the expenditure of the $8.5 billion climate finance deal, very closely. We also hope that Mminele will ensure that communities and others, who will inevitably be affected by the just transition, are not left behind. He should also look at what communities and activists are already doing and find ways to improve and/or support those efforts.
I end with a parting note to our leaders. Remember “we are the direct descendants of freedom fighters. Their genes are still pure in us. We still have that fire, and we will rise up for change, for equality, for climate sovereignty, and for an equitable just transition.” We are free.
Andile Mlambo, a member of Earthlife Africa’s Presidential Climate Change Commission (PCC) activist group
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