The Green Connection’s Community Outreach Coordinator Neville Van Rooy says, “The Green Connection welcomes the Government of National Unity (GNU) and new cabinet ministers, especially in energy, environment and minerals. We remain hopeful that our leaders will prioritise the sustainability of the energy pathway for South Africa, keeping the climate crisis top of mind, as we move away from the investment in fossil fuels. We need to stay away from oil and gas exploration, and instead take more responsible decisions for the planet and the people of South Africa. We hope that government will now prioritise the Integrated Energy plan needs prioritising because this will ensure we that we move away from fossil fuels productions and have a plan for the sustainability of all South Africans.”
The Green Connection’s Advocacy Officer Lisa Makaula says, “The changes in cabinet are noted, especially the shift in energy planning to the Minister of Electricity. However, we are quite concerned, when considering his past poor performance, that Minister Gwede Mantashe has been reappointed to oversee the Department of Minerals and Petroleum.”
Makaula adds, “We are hopeful that South Africa’s 7th parliament will do better to promote inclusive decision-making processes and implement changes to ensure that the voices of people are heard, such as the concerns of coastal communities around maintaining a healthy ocean environment, to ensure that their livelihoods are preserved. We are in a climate crisis and South Africa must find other ways to promote economic growth. We must move away from industries that depend on fossil fuels and should instead firmly pivot toward a just energy transition. We hope, with this new Government of National Unity, that civil society’s voices and concerns will be heard. And we hope to see change, especially when it comes to decision-making and implementing policies that move our country forward toward net-zero emissions.”
Earthlife Africa Johannesburg Director Makoma Lekalakala says, “Overall, we welcome the new cabinet appointments and hope that these Ministers will prioritise the interests of South Africa and its people. This includes ensuring free, prior, and informed consent and respecting the people’s right to reject projects that could harm them, the environment, or negatively impact livelihoods.”
SAFCEI’s Executive Director Francesca de Gasparis says, as a civil society organisation that usually meets the government in court, SAFCEI was surprised and honoured to be invited to attend the inauguration for the second term of the President. Following the cabinet announcement on Sunday, SAFCEI was pleased that mineral resources and energy have been separated into two ministries although we noted petroleum has remained with mineral resources. The energy crisis, and rising electricity costs, year on year, from Eskom, which is in the news again today, is unsustainable. We need better leadership and policy decisions from the new government. We want accessible and affordable electricity, with the lights on 24/7, and available to all South Africans. We also hope that, through the GNU, climate change is taken seriously, and South Africa with its abundance of sun and wind, demonstrates what can be done to tackle inequality and care for nature, without sacrificing one or the other.”
Source: Civil Society Organisations, The Green Connection and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg
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