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Over the past few weeks, the Presidential Climate Change (PCC) Commission has started to ramp-up its consultation with communities on a framework pathway for a just transition. The Just Transition Framework – which is meant to guide South Africa’s response to the climate crises, and which should make clear to citizens the path the country should take to move to a low-carbon society – is open for public comment until 29 April 2022. Following the PCC Commission's community stakeholder engagement in Gqeberha, last week, communities from Eastern Cape and Limpopo are sharing their thoughts. 

For Earthlife Africa Johannesburg – which has PCC Commissioner Makoma Lekalakala at its head – ensuring that ordinary people in South Africa understand the issues relating to climate change and the just transition, has already been a top priority. For the better part of the past year, Earthlife Africa has held several dialogues with communities, to unpack exactly what the just transition would entail. As a result, some communities in Gauteng, Limpopo, and Eastern Cape are already quite clued-up on these issues and want to ensure that they form part of the decision-making. Earthlife Africa has also gathered a group of about 20 young activists, from these provinces, as part of its community advocacy for a carbon neutral future.

Community activist and member of Women of Change in Lephalale Lucy Pitsi says, “While there are many in our communities who may not know the popular words and phrases to describe it, they do know how they experience the impacts of climate change. From these past few community engagements, it is clear that people want to be included in the just transition, but they need clarity on what it means for them. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past if we have any hope of creating a better society. If we want to have a happier future for our country, we must address the climate crises as an inclusive process, which includes making significant investments to ensure that the transition is indeed just. Furthermore, in a future that is fair and equitable, only developments that recognise and respect people's rights and that of the environment should be considered.” 

“This just transition is going to be huge, since it means a complete overhaul of how we, as a country, do things. From how we decide what will drive our local economy and where to invest to how we use our lands and design the infrastructure, since we need to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. This would also mean that our people need to develop new skills to enable them to work in the sectors created as part of a new low-carbon economy and we should choose more responsible social and environmental practices,” says Lekalakala.

Some of the key issues that emerged from the PCC community engagement in Lephalale – home to coal mines and coal-fired power stations – were focused on the effects of the uncontrolled air pollution and environmental destruction, in addition to concerns about access to water. According to communities, who know first-hand about the devastating impacts of fossil fuels, “We have 82 mines in Limpopo, and yet we are the poorest of the poor. We have no access to clean water or quality sanitation services. All the water is currently being diverted to mines and to Eskom’s power stations. Yet it is government’s responsibility to ensure that communities have water! Limpopo – from Lephalale to Waterberg to Musina and Makhado – is a water-scarce province, yet all the water-intensive developments that will destroy our environment and our way of life, are coming here. Also, the coal is killing our people here. The air pollution has had devastating impacts on our families.”

One young woman from Lephalale got emotional when she highlighted the plight of women and the youth, “We [the youth], especially young women in rural locations, need the type of developments that are socially owned and that would benefit the majority of people, not just an elite few. We see this just transition as an opportunity to create sustainable work that will give us independence. It is critical that we change the system so that it works for the people who need it. And, if done properly, the just transition could open a world of opportunities for rural youth, who desperately need better opportunities. We look forward to the future green economy, which we hope will create many new jobs, addressing the high unemployment in our communities.”

Communities, especially those experiencing first-hand the devastation of coal, want to see an end to fossil fuels because not only is it a key cause of climate change but it is also a leading killer of people living in areas where coal is mined and burnt to create electricity. For decades now, these people believed that they were the problem, not knowing that it was the poor quality of the heavily polluted air that was killing them. Some women shared the pain of women being labelled as killers, since many of their husbands die almost immediately after they go on pension. 

At the PCC community engagement in Gqeberha, Mzoli Mgqali from Hlumani Nande Environmental Ambassadors in Motherwell and a member of Earthlife Africa’s PCC Activist Group highlighted the many water challenges faced by communities living next to polluting industries. Athini John from Green Blood Uitenhage, on the other hand, wanted to know more about the $8.5-billion Climate Finance Deal that was announced at COP26. Is it a loan or a grant? She also wanted to know exactly how this finance will benefit communities?

Another member of Earthlife Africa’s PCC Group, Bulelwa Klassen from Siyanqoba Feeding Scheme in Zwide Township says, “The purpose of the just transition should be to ensure that climate change is effectively addressed, in ways that improves the lives of our entire society. Since human action is causing the climate crises, it is makes sense that we understand exactly how our actions must change. Therefore, I want to understand how we will move our townships to a low-carbon and sustainable path in a way that not only includes but also empowers our people?”

According to Earthlife Africa’s Thabo Sibeko, “From what we are hearing from communities, it is clear that these initial consultations should be regarded as the first step. It should not be considered as the final step in what should be a process towards the formulation of the Just Transition Framework. Communities at the grassroots will require much more engagement, as not all marginalised peoples have had an opportunity to participate. Also, it is impossible to think that all the issues can be addressed in one day. We hope the second and third rounds of consultation are still being organised to ensure that ‘no-one is left behind’.”

Sibeko says that there are a lot of concerns that these public engagements are a mere rubber stamp (since public participation has become more of a box-ticking exercise in South Africa). This is why, he says, the participants in these presentations want evidence that their views have been considered and incorporated into the draft Just Transition Framework. 

Issued by Earthlife Africa Johannesburg