- South Africa’s petrochemicals giant, Sasol, is donating R7,5 million to support emergency relief efforts in KwaZulu-Natal, following the devastating floods that have resulted in significant loss of life and damage to property and infrastructure.
- Sasol is the second highest carbon emitter in South Africa after the country’s state owned energy utility, Eskom.
- Sasol is also listed as one of the so-called Carbon Majors, the 100 companies estimated to be responsible for 71% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Sasol Executive Vice President: Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations, Charlotte Mokoena, conveyed Sasol’s deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in the wake of this disaster as well those who are separated from their family members; and/or impacted in other ways.
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“Our donation will be channelled through one of our partners, the Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa (CAFSA), to facilitate and coordinate the disbursement of funds to various vetted relief agencies that are providing active on the ground disaster support in the province,” said Mokoena.
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“For Sasol, it was imperative that we stepped up swiftly to support relief efforts in the most affected areas. For this reason, working closely with the Provincial Government, different district municipalities and eThekwini Municipality, a portion of our donation will be released with immediacy for provision of necessities such as food, clothing, mattresses and blankets, while the remaining funds will go towards rebuild efforts for critical infrastructure such as schools and clinics.
Does Sasol really care?
Sasol was heavilly criticised for its previous Climate Change Roadmap released in August 2020. They continue to transgress environemntal laws. Findings by inspectors from the Department of Environmental Affairs that Sasol’s Secunda facility was in violation of environmental laws in April 2019 and again in February 2020, and enforcement action that has been initiated by the Department against Sasol in February 2020. These violations as reported by the Department in its annual National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report (2019-2020), most of which constitute criminal offences under environmental laws.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
