Climate organisations, mining communities and labour unions march to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in Tshwane on Wednesday. (Photo: Julia Evans)
Members of mining-affected communities and organisations combating the climate crisis have chained themselves to the gates of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in Tshwane, demanding the implementation of policies on renewable energy and Minister Gwede Mantashe’s resignation.
Protesters outside the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy building in Tshwane. (Photo: Julia Evans)
The population is waking up“For example, in the Karpowerships programme, where they’re trying to bring in these Turkish power ships… It’s clear the modelling shows that we don’t need a 20-year lock-in programme for partnerships. But when there’s lots of money to be made, over R200-billion, then people profit off that. So that’s why they push for these sorts of projects over the ones that are more distributed, less susceptible to corruption, and better for the people of South Africa.”
Desai agreed it was down to corruption, saying, “There’s a lot of Black Economic Empowerment interests inside the ruling party, well connected, who want to stay with coal [sic].”
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