Durban protest highlights environmental issues
Call for action
Desmond D'Sa, on the right, led the protest.
Image: Supplied
ENVIRONMENTALISTS and residents recently held a peaceful protest at the Durban beachfront, calling for social, environmental and climate justice in eThekwini.
Desmond D’Sa, the founder of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (Sdcea), said the protest was held during the G20 Summit, which continued to shape global policies that impacted everyday people, yet communities affected by environmental issues remained excluded from decision-making.
“There is limited community participation in decisions that directly affect people’s livelihoods, land, and future opportunities. Environmental harm is caused by ongoing oil and gas exploration, industrial pollution, and land degradation.
“There is growing economic inequality, where corporations benefit while communities face unemployment, poor housing, and unsafe environments. We demand meaningful community inclusion in all G20-related processes, with free, prior, and informed consent for all development projects.
“A Just Transition is a framework for moving a low-carbon economy in a way that is fair and inclusive, leaving no one behind. We demand a real Just Transition that prioritises renewable energy, clean water, food security, and sustainable livelihoods, without forcing harmful options like nuclear power or gas on communities.
Residents from different parts of Durban joined the protest
Image: Supplied
“We demand protection of land, oceans, and natural resources from exploitation, pollution, and corporate capture. We need open access to beach piers for subsistence fisherfolk, whose livelihoods depend on fair and continuous access to the ocean.
“We call for an immediate end to all oil and gas exploration along South Africa’s coastline, which threatens marine life, local economies, and food security. Saturday’s protest is a call for social and environmental justice. Communities demand that those who pollute must repair the damage they cause, and that national leaders honour their constitutional duty to protect people and the environment."
He said the organisation hoped Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and Mayor Cyril Xaba could address their concerns and demands, and address it during next year's summit.