- The Climate Justice Coalition (CJC) and its civil society partners will march with communities and workers across the Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Western Cape, Kwazulu Natal, and Gauteng.
- The People’s Power Marches, which will coincide with Human Rights Day, aim to assert the right to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity.
At the heart of these actions are the struggles of communities and workers living in eMalahleni – The Place of Coal – suffering from the harmful impacts of coal. The People’s Powers Marches raise the demand for a rapid and just transition to a more socially-owned, renewable energy-powered future, providing clean, safe, and affordable energy for all.
Related news: Expect DMRE to try to bulldoze South Africa’s flawed IRP through before the national elections
The actions are protesting the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) detrimental, fossil-fuel-heavy Draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) of 2023. The plan offers a bleak outlook, especially for working-class and low-income households who will be condemned to unaffordable, unreliable and dirty energy for the foreseeable future. The plan also slashes investment in renewable energy and fails to ensure a just transition that creates dignified jobs for workers, resolves load-shedding, or safeguards people and the environment. The coalition and its partners reject the draft IRP and call for the development of a People’s Energy Plan that delivers clean, safe, and affordable energy for all with no community or worker left behind.
Read the full list of demands here and an overview of the action here.
Details of planned actions:
MPUMALANGA
WHEN: Wednesday, 20 March at 09AM SAST
WHERE: Corner OR Tambo and Nelson Mandela road, eMalahleni
EVENT ORGANISERS: Carolina Eco Green, Vukani Environmental Movement, MS Environmental Projects, Middelburg Social And Environmental Justice Alliance, Highveld Environmental Development Networking Alliance
GROUND CONTACT PERSON: Cleopatra Shezi 0727394122
FREE STATE (2 ACTIONS)
WHEN: Wednesday, 20 March at 10:30AM SAST
WHERE: Assemble at Hoffman’s Square, depart at 11:00 to Premier’s Office and Eskom.
EVENT ORGANISERS: Botshabelo Unemployed Movement (B.U.M.)
GROUND CONTACT PERSON: Thandiwe Tess Tshaka 0717716884
WHEN: Wednesday, 20 March at 10AM SAST
WHERE: DMRE: The Strip, 314 Stateway, Welkom Central, Welkom, 9459
EVENT ORGANISERS: Working for Climate, Tshwaranang Ma Afrika
GROUND CONTACT PERSON: Mpai Nkali 082 535 9543
GAUTENG
WHEN: Wednesday, 20 March at 10AM SAST
WHERE: Eskom, Chris Hani Road, Klipspruit, Soweto
EVENT ORGANISERS: United Front and Extinction Rebellion Gauteng
GROUND CONTACT PERSON: Moeketsi Monaheng 0780417402 or Simphiwe Zwane 0729448250
KWA-ZULU NATAL
WHEN: Wednesday, 20 March at 10 AM SAST
WHERE: Eskom, 8A Albert Wessels Drive, Riverside Industrial, Newcastle
EVENT ORGANISERS: Sukumani Environmental Justice
GROUND CONTACT PERSON: Thokozile Nkosi 0685121233
LIMPOPO
WHEN: Wednesday, 20 March at 09AM SAST
WHERE: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, BROLL Building, 101 Dorp Street, Polokwane
EVENT ORGANISERS: Sekhukhune Environmental Justice Network, Mining Affected Communities Advocacy Project and Waterberg Women Advocacy Organisation
GROUND CONTACT PERSON: Tokelo Mahlakoane 0820558741 or Francina Nkosi 0728779972
WESTERN CAPE
WHEN: Thursday, 21 March at 10AM SAST
WHERE: Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, 120 Plein St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
EVENT ORGANISERS: African Climate Alliance, The Green Connection and others
GROUND CONTACT PERSON: Lisa Makaula 071 527 5751
Source: Climate Justice Coalition
