As we share this message to reflect on the events of 2020, we acknowledge the extraordinary circumstances of this year and the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on lives, health, and livelihoods for people in our country, and around the world. Our staff has been touched by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways, and our thoughts… continued
Last week, the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF) confirmed that the National Prosecuting Authority has resolved to proceed with the criminal prosecution of major polluter and state-owned entity Eskom, for criminal violations of air pollution laws at its Kendal coal power station. Kendal power station is situated in the heavily polluted Mpumalanga Highveld, 40km… continued
Last week, the High Court in Pretoria set aside the environmental approval for the 1200 MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station that would have been built in its first phase at 557 MW outside Lephalale in Limpopo province. The court order was the result of the settlement of a court application brought by environmental justice groups Earthlife Africa and groundWork, Friends of the… continued
On Friday, the Centre for Environmental Rights hosted a virtual graduation ceremony for the 15 community activists who successfully completed our 2020 Environmental Rights & Remedies Course for Activists. The ceremony was attended by CER attorneys and staff, and the keynote address delivered by internationally recognised local environmental justice activist Makoma Lekalakala, director of Earthlife… continued
On Friday, 20 November 2020, activists and lawyers from the Life After Coal campaign will participate in the virtual Annual General Meeting of Sasol Limited. They will be joining community and civil society organisations and activists from South Africa and Mozambique, all of whom have acquired shares in Sasol and therefore attend as shareholders, to ask pertinent questions of Sasol’s board and management. The Life After Coal… continued
Every day, people living and working on the Mpumalanga Highveld are breathing toxic, polluted air that is harmful to their health and well-being. This is the basis of the Deadly Air case, which will be heard by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 17 to 19 May 2021. The applicants in the court… continued
Major climate impacts and exorbitant costs have sounded the death knell for one of the last new proposed coal-fired power stations in South Africa: Thabametsi in water-scarce Limpopo. Last week, environmental justice groups Earthlife Africa and groundWork, who have been challenging the Thabametsi power station in court since 2016, secured agreement from both Thabametsi and… continued
On Tuesday, 3 November 2020 at 9:45, the Supreme Court Appeal in Bloemfontein will hear the appeal by the Global Environmental Trust and others against a 2018 judgement of the Pietermaritzburg High Court, in which that court had refused to grant an interdict application brought by the Applicants against Tendele Coal Mining (Pty) Ltd and… continued
Joint Media Statement “I refused to sign. I cannot sell out my people. And if need be, I will die for my people.” Tragically, grandmother Fikile Ntshangase’s words became a reality when she was gunned down in her home at Ophondweni, near Mtubatuba, on the evening of 22 October 2020. Mama Ntshangashe was the Vice-Chairperson… continued
The Centre for Environmental Rights is shocked and devastated by the murder of KwaZulu-Natal activist Fikile Ntshangase, shot dead last night at her home where she lived with her young grandson. Mam Ntshangase was the vice-chairperson of the Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation (MCEJO), and a prominent critic of the proposed expansion of the Tendele… continued
On 20 October 2020, the Asina Loyiko campaign launched its new website to serve as a resource and connection hub for activists confronted by SLAPP suits (strategic litigation against public participation) and other uses of the law to discourage and silence activism and free speech. The collaborative Asina Loyiko: United Against Corporate Bullying* campaign, launched in 2019,… continued
We have extended the application deadlines for two vacancies at CER to 1 November 2020. The first position is for an attorney in our Pollution & Climate Change programme. We are looking for an attorney with at least 3 years’ post-qualification litigation experience who has a passion for environmental justice. This is your chance to… continued
You are invited to the launch of the Asina Loyiko Website! Please join us for the launch and webinar featuring local and international experts and a keynote address by local hero and activist, Nonhle Mbuthuma of the Amadiba Crisis Committee. RESISTING CORPORATE BULLYING AND INTIMIDATION Around the world, human rights activists are subjected to immense physical and… continued
This week, the Centre for Environmental Rights honours a decade of litigation, advocacy and activism for environmental justice: it has been 10 years since CER opened its doors in 2010. Where it all started In the late 2000s, although section 24 of the South African Constitution guaranteed the right to a healthy environment, the concept… continued
This week, another 15 environmental justice activists started the 2020 Environmental Rights & Remedies Course for Activists, presented annually by attorneys from the Centre for Environmental Rights. Unlike previous courses, which took place in Cape Town, this course is virtual – opening the door to reaching many more activists across the country in future. Activists… continued
A group of prominent South African public health experts and practitioners has written to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni calling for stronger leadership from the South African government on climate, energy and health in building a post-COVID-19 South Africa. In a letter to Minister Mboweni on 14 September 2020, the Climate, Energy and Health Special Interest… continued
This article was first published in the Daily Maverick. South Africa is a water-scarce country, and in rural areas, women bear the brunt of water collection and provision. Many of those communities are affected by mining, which is not only heavily extractive, but also a major polluter of scarce water resources. Water is a burning issue… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Pretoria High Court has handed down a judgment in the City of Cape Town’s case against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. In the case, the City seeks to develop its own clean electricity supply without requiring the Minister’s permission. Judge Leonie… continued
A landmark decision by the Water Tribunal confirms that water licensing authorities must consider the impacts of climate change when deciding whether or not to grant water use licences to coal-fired power stations. In its decision handed down on 21 July 2020, the Tribunal upheld an appeal to set aside the water use licence granted by the… continued
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Decisions about South Africa’s energy future must be made in a transparent and accountable manner. This is the basis for new court proceedings launched this week by environmental justice group groundWork against the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). In its… continued