Earthlife Africa Johannesburg hosted a ‘Scamtho’ (community dialogue) with communities in Soweto to call on government, different stakeholders and everyone to fast track a people-led just transition to a low-carbon economy, to protect South Africa and the wider African continent from fossil fuel extraction and further climate change risks.
The environmental justice organisation’s vision for a just energy transition includes government investment in renewable energy, the creation of green jobs, and safeguards for vulnerable communities. Earthlife Africa says, “We urgently need inclusive policies that redress the harm caused by fossil fuel operations, which have brought pollution, health hazards, and systemic neglect instead of improvements.”
“The fight against climate change is one of the main challenges facing the planet today. The impact of extraction in our continent is environmental damage, climate change and extreme health risks, which affect many of our communities. The just transition will ensure that the shift to a green economy benefits African nations,” notes Dumazile Ntsele of the New Church NPO.
The Africa Day celebration Scamtho, held at the Soweto Career Centre on 27 May, was attended by 100 participants from community organisations around Soweto. According to Ulrich Steenkamp, Programs Officer at Earthlife Africa, “The purpose of the event is to put more emphasis on the need to place frontline communities at the centre of climate action and amplify community voices who are directly affected by fossil fuel extraction and the economic gap.”
“It is critical that we address climate change, promote social justice and inclusivity. This is why we want a just transition because it involves greening the economy in an inclusive manner by creating decent job opportunities which benefit local communities and leave no one behind,” adds Thabisile Mashinini, also from the New Church NPO.
One of the event speakers, Mme Martha Mokate from the Soweto Electricity Crisis Community, highlighted that “It is important for communities to position themselves for the just transition by community-led planning and participation in local government ward activities and seeking government empowerment in sustainable farming methods and other information sharing initiatives which will advance community preparedness for the just transition. We must move away from fossil fuel energy because it causes pollution and ultimately climate change.”
“Communities can benefit greatly from education and awareness, workshops and community meetings about the benefits of renewable energy and what the just transition is so that they can identify how they can be part of it and benefit from it. This way the communities would be more empowered to make decisions about their energy future,” added Ntsele.
The Rivoningo /Lesedi Just Transition Centre was introduced by Earthlife Africa’s Anzani Manyoka. This is a new community hub that will focus on environmental and climate justice education, organising, and capacity-building for a low-carbon future. This empowerment centre will officially be opened in Soweto, in the later months of 2025
Guest speaker, Mrs Ndivile Mokoena, Earthlife Board member shared the ‘Restorative, Distributive & Procedural Justice Framework’ with participants. She explained how the framework grounds the just transition in equity, fairness and accountability, especially for historically marginalised groups. Mokoena put a special emphasis on the right of communities to be involved in the just transition and to have a voice in decisions which affect their health and their livelihoods.
The event ensured that there was a healthy discussion on the issues raised by speakers and areas of concern. To promote youth and cultural inclusion to the Scamtho celebration, the organisation used art, poetry and music to connect with the essence of Africa Day and the preservation of the environment through the just transition. Participants signed a Community Pledge for Africa as a symbol of their commitment to fighting fossil fuel extraction and upholding climate justice values.
Community-based organisations from Soweto were the key participants in this event. More than 100 signatures were gathered as part of the Community Pledge for Africa – where attendees committed to fighting fossil fuel extraction and upholding climate justice values. With the commitment to these values, there was a call on all stakeholders like government, civil society organisations and funders to centre grassroots communities in all climate-related decision-making processes, and to do it now!
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