Environmental movement in South Africa

Organisations

* Earthlife Africa
* Cape Town Ecology Group
* Koeberg Alert
* Earthlife Africa
* GreenPeace Africa
* EThekwini ECOPEACE
* Endangered Wildlife Trust
* WESSA
* Groundwork South Africa
* Dolphin Action and Protection Group

Conferences

* South African National Conference on Environment and Development
* World Summit on Sustainable Development
* COP17

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South African youth climate activists in 2020.

The environmental movement in South Africa traces its history from the early beginnings of conservation, to the rise of radicalism and activism amongst local ecologists. Before the Chernobyl disaster and the fall of the Berlin Wall, there were very few green activist groups in the country. Koeberg Alert and the Dolphin Action and Protection Group are probably two of the oldest post-conservation groups.

While most early conservationists, with few exceptions, implicated themselves in the apartheid system[citation needed], groups such as Earthlife Africa were consciously aware of their role as nurturers of freedom and human rights as well as the rights of the earth and animal kingdom. The Cape Town Ecology Group for example, openly campaigned for political freedoms with a platform that "ecologised politics and politicised ecology".[1]

During apartheid while political parties were banned, environmental groups served as an outlet for activism and political expression. In Durban, the Environmental Justice Network, sprung up alongside ant-apartheid issues that affected the environment as well as the rights of workers. While many radical environmentalists were later absorbed into the governing African National Congress, some toyed with the formation of a political party that would represent green interests.

The environmental movement moved into the political space in 1989 with the establishment of the Ecology Party, which disbanded shortly thereafter. In 1992 Ian Brownlie launched the Green Party, but it too disbanded after a disastrous election campaign in 1994. Judy Sole then founded the Government of the People Green Party in 1999.

## Timeline[edit]

Green Pages

### Colonial Era[edit]

* 1918: Native Farmers Association founded;[2]
* 1926: Wildlife Society of South Africa founded

### Apartheid Era[edit]

* 1955: Congress_of_the_People_(1955) held at Kliptown. Freedom Charter includes article on agrarian & environmental rights, in particular 'save the soil'.
* 1973: Endangered Wildlife Trust founded
* 1976 Koeberg Alert founded following the decision to site South Africa's first nuclear power station only 30 kms from Cape Town
* 1977: The Dolphin Action & Protection Group founded with the motto and policy 'Dolphins Should Be Free'.
* 1983: Koeberg Alert reconstituted, "broadens the focus of the protest" to place the entire nuclear issue "within its social, political and economic context."
* 1984: Natsoc, a nature society founded
* 1986: Chernobyl disaster
* 1987: Cape Town Ecology Group founded; with motto: 'Free the Humans'
* 1988: Earthlife Africa formed; Khanyisa, environmental awareness organisation founded in townships of Langa, Nyanga, Guguletu and Khayelitsha
* 1989: Earthlife Africa exposes mercury poisoning of workers at Thor Chemicals;[3] Kagenna Magazine is published; Green Action Forum founded by Greg Knill. Establishment of the Ecology Party in Cape Town.
* 1990: A fishing industry campaign by the Food and Allied Workers Union links workers issues to the environment.
* 1991: First National Conference on Environment and Development; Environmental Monitoring Group releases a document "Towards Sustainable Development in South Africa";[4] General Magnus Malan takes over as new Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry; Bev Geach of the Weekly Mail publishes The Green Pages, a directory of environmental groups
* 1992: Earthlife Africa pressurizes the government for an inquiry into asbestos related deaths. Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF) formed at an ELA conference. Establishment of the Green Party by activists in Cape Town.
* 1993: Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) founded.

### Post-Apartheid Era[edit]

Climate change protesters in Durban participate in the 2011 Global Day of Action

* 1994: After South Africa's first democratic election, environmental rights submitted for debate to the Constitutional Assembly.
* 1995: eThekwini ECOPEACE founded
* 1996: South Africa's Bill of Rights proclaims: "Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being."
* 1997: The ANC government moves to provide lead-free petrol as one of its first pro-environment policies
* 1998: The Truth Commission hears about asbestos-related deaths from mining
* 1999: Groundwork (GW), a non-profit, environmental justice service and development organization founded by 3 ex-EJNF activists. Founding of the Government by the People Green Party by Judy Sole.
* 2000: South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) formed; eThekwini ECOPEACE wins one seat in the eThekwini Municipal Council, the first time a Green Party of any sort in South Africa has won at the polls
* 2002: Rio+10 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg; Earthlife launches the People's Environmental Centre, the Greenhouse.
* 2003: Asbestos Relief Trust (ART) set up, and the Kgalagadi Relief Trust (KRT), both of which evaluate claims and provide compensation for qualified claimants. A media statement, indicates that the ban on the use of asbestos and asbestos-related materials was "well overdue." National Energy Caucus founded.
* 2004: Marthinus van Schalkwyk appointed as Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
* 2006: Eskom, South Africa's national energy utility issues energy-saving lightbulbs to consumers as part of a "demand-side" energy-reduction campaign.
* Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism holds hearings on nuclear power. First evidence of contamination and worker-related deaths caused b exposure to radiation.
* 2009: South Africa participates in the Copenhagen Climate Change round.
* 2010: SA Government announces mothballing of PBMR. Edna Molewa appointed Minister of Environment under Jacob Zuma.
* 2011: South Africa hosts COP17 in Durban, a new framework emerges. Allied Climate & Health Conference releases "Durban Declaration" declaring a health emergency, signed by 250 medical professionals and public health organisations.
* 2015: South Africa hosts South African International Renewable Energy Conference.
* 2016: Vukani Environmental Justice Movement formed in Mpumalanga Province. Establishment of The Greens in Cape Town.
* 2019: Barbara Creecy sworn in as new Minister of Environment under Ramaphosa. The Government of the People Green Party participated in the 2019 National and Provincial Elections and obtained 0,13% of the vote in the Western Cape Province, but no parliamentary seat.
* 2021: The Greens contested the Local Government Elections in the Cape Town metropole but did not secure a seat in the council.
* 2022: March, "Deadly Air" case heard in South Africa. Court confirms the constitutional right of the country’s citizens to an environment that isn’t harmful to their health. This includes the right to clean air, as exposure to air pollution affects human health. [5]

Extinction Rebellion protesting coal in South Africa

* September, Shell 'Wild Coast' Ocean Exploration Case heard. High Court in Makhanda ruled that Shell’s exploration right to conduct seismic surveys on the Wild Coast of South Africa was granted unlawfully and therefore set it aside. [6]

## See also[edit]

* Federation of Green Parties of Africa
* Anti-nuclear movement

## References[edit]

1. ^ Lewis, D R, "Ending the Apartheid of the Environment", South, Southside Environment, 7–13 March 1991, p19
2. ^ Khan, Farieda, Rewriting South Africa's Conservation History-The Role of the Native Farmers Association, Journal of Southern African Studies Vol. 20, No. 4 (Dec., 1994), pp. 499-516 https://www.jstor.org/stable/2636969
3. ^ "Environmental Justice Case Study: Thor Chemicals and Mercury Exposure in".
4. ^ Lewis, D R, "Environment and Economics go together?", South Environment, Sept 19-25, 1991, p20
5. ^ Garland, Rebecca, South African court rules that clean air is a constitutional right https://theconversation.com/south-african-court-rules-that-clean-air-is-a-constitutional-right-what-needs-to-change-179706
6. ^ Vlavianos, Chris, Communities celebrate as Court sets aside Shell’s exploration right off the Wild Coast of South Africahttps://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/52171/press-release-communities-celebrate-as-court-sets-aside-shells-exploration-right-off-the-wild-coast-of-south-africa/

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Politics of South Africa

By province|

* Eastern Cape
* Free State
* Gauteng
* KwaZulu-Natal
* Limpopo
* Mpumalanga
* North West
* Northern Cape
* Western Cape

Flag of South Africa

Political
movements|

| Ideologies|

* African nationalism
* Afrikaner nationalism
* Anarchism
* Anti-war
* Black consciousness
* Environmentalism
* Federalism
* Feminism
* Liberalism
* Libertarianism
* Pan-Africanism
* Non-racialism
* Trotskyism

|

Political parties|

see South Africa political parties

Other political
organisations|

* AfriForum
* Afrikanerbond
* Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB)
* Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA)
* Congress of South African Students (COSAS)
* Earthlife Africa
* Keep Left
* Khanya College
* Koeberg Alert
* Lesbian and Gay Equality Project (LGEP)
* People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD)
* South African Liberal Students' Association (SALSA)
* South African Students Congress (SASCO)
* South African Wine Initiative
* Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front (ZACF)

Trade unions and
Social movements|

see South Africa trade unions

* Equal Education
* Mandela Park Backyarders
* People Against Suffering, Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP)
* Poor People's Alliance
* Abahlali baseMjondolo
* Landless Peoples Movement
* Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
* Reclaim the City
* Social Justice Coalition
* Treatment Action Campaign
* Unemployed Peoples' Movement

Law|

see South African law

Political culture|

* African Renaissance
* Alternative media
* Azania
* Corruption
* (Don't) touch me on my studio
* Freedom Charter
* Proudly South African
* Rainbow nation
* Renaming
* Tenderpreneurs
* Toyi-toyi
* Ubuntu
* UnFreedom Day
* White monopoly capital
* Xenophobia

* Anti-Chinese sentiment
* Anti-Indian sentiment

| Slogans|

* "Amandla Ngawethu!"
* "No Land! No House! No Vote!"
* "Dubul' ibhunu" (Shoot the Boer)
* "One Settler, One Bullet"
* "Each One, Teach One"

|

Books and
periodicals|

* African Communist
* Amandla
* ANC Today
* Biko
* I Write What I Like
* Long Walk to Freedom
* Molotov Cocktail
* No Land! No House! No Vote!

Other|

* Blikkiesdorp
* Corrective rape
* Crime
* Cape Independence
* Elections
* e-tolling
* Farm attacks
* #FeesMustFall
* Gupta family
* HIV/AIDS
* Labour brokering
* Land occupations
* Legacies of apartheid
* Lindela
* Marikana massacre
* Nkandlagate
* Phala Phala robbery
* Political assassinations
* Political repression
* Protests
* Sexual violence
* Shack fires
* Terrorism
* Third Force

Category

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Political history of South Africa

Defunct polities|

* Kingdom of Mapungubwe (c. 1075–c. 1220)
* Dutch Cape Colony (1652–1806)
* Mthethwa Paramountcy (c. 1780–1817)
* Ndwandwe Kingdom (c. 1780–1819)
* Cape Colony (1795–1910)
* Zulu Kingdom (1816–1897)
* Natalia Republic (1839–1843)
* Natal Colony (1843–1910)
* Orange Free State (1854–1902)
* South African Republic (1856–1902)
* Griqualand East (1861–1879)
* Griqualand West (1870–1873)
* Goshen (1882–1883)
* Stellaland (1882–1885)
* Nieuwe Republiek (1884–1888)
* Upingtonia (1885–1887)
* Klein Vrystaat (1886–1891)
* Orange River Colony (1902–1910)
* Transvaal Colony (1902–1910)
* Union of South Africa (1910–1961)
* Transkei (1976–1994)
* Bophuthatswana (1977–1994)
* Venda (1979–1994)
* Ciskei (1981–1994)

Events|

| Pre-colonial|

* Bantu migrations
* Battle of Salt River

|

1652–1815|

* Dutch settlement
* French Huguenot settlement
* Khoikhoi–Dutch Wars
* Xhosa Wars
* Battle of Muizenberg
* Battle of Blaauwberg
* Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814

1815–1910|

* Mfecane
* 1820 Settlers
* Great Trek
* Boer Republics
* Transvaal Civil War
* Mineral Revolution
* Witwatersrand Gold Rush
* South African Wars
* South Africa Act 1909 (National Convention)

1910–1948|

* South West Africa campaign
* Maritz rebellion
* Rand Rebellion
* Great Depression
* 1946 African Mine Workers' Union strike
* Bantustans

Apartheid|

* 1948 general election
* Apartheid legislation
* Pass laws
* Internal resistance
* Coloured-vote constitutional crisis
* Defiance Campaign
* Congress of the People
* Freedom Charter
* Women's March 1956
* 1957 Alexandra bus boycott
* Sharpeville massacre
* 1960 republic referendum
* International isolation
* UN Resolution 1761
* UNSC Resolution 591
* Academic boycott
* Disinvestment
* Constructive engagement
* Tar Baby Option
* Sporting boycott
* Olympics
* Rugby union
* Rivonia Trial
* Durban Moment
* Border War
* Israeli alliance
* Israel–South Africa Agreement
* Soweto Uprising
* Weapons of mass destruction
* Project Coast
* Church Street bombing
* 1983 constitutional referendum
* Langa massacre
* Rubicon speech
* Operation Vula
* Dakar Conference
* Transkei coup d'état
* Ciskei coup d'état
* Venda coup d'état
* Third Force
* CODESA
* Storming of the Kempton Park World Trade Centre
* Bisho massacre
* 1992 apartheid referendum
* Saint James Church massacre
* Bophuthatswana crisis
* Shell House massacre
* Mafeje affair

Post-
apartheid|

* 1994 general election
* Government of National Unity
* Reconstruction and Development Programme
* Truth and Reconciliation Commission
* Arms Deal
* Floor crossing
* Soweto bombings
* African Renaissance
* Travelgate
* Xenophobia
* Attack on Kennedy Road
* Marikana massacre
* 2012 Western Cape farm workers' strike
* Nkandlagate
* Racism
* 2014 platinum strike
* #RhodesMustFall protests
* #FeesMustFall student protests
* Tshwane riots
* 2019 service delivery protests
* 2019 Johannesburg riots
* COVID-19 pandemic
* 2020 Phala Phala Robbery
* 2021 unrest
* Lady R incident

Political culture|

* African nationalism
* Afrikaner Calvinism
* Afrikaner nationalism
* Anarchism
* Azania
* Baasskap
* Boerehaat
* Black Consciousness Movement
* Cape Independence
* Day of the Vow
* Greater South Africa
* Honorary whites
* Rooi gevaar
* Slavery
* Swart gevaar
* Uitlander
* Volkstaat

Defunct
organisations|

| Civic and political
organisations|

* Afrikaner Bond
* Afrikaner Broederbond
* Afrikaner Party
* AITUP
* APO
* AVF
* BPC
* Black Sash
* Boerestaat Party
* CDA
* CNIP
* CTEG
* COD
* Congress Alliance
* COSG
* CP
* DLF
* Dominion Party
* DP (1973–1977)
* DP (1989–2000)
* DPP
* DSM
* ECC
* FA
* FD
* Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners
* GNP
* Het Volk
* HNP (Herenigde)
* HNP (Herstigte)
* IDASA
* ID
* IP
* ISL
* Jeugkrag
* Johannesburg Reform Committee
* Labour Party (1910–1958)
* Labour Party (1969–1994)
* Liberal Party (1953–1968)
* NA
* NCP
* Natal Indian Congress
* NLP
* NNP
* NP
* NPP
* NRP
* NUSAS
* Occupy
* Orangia Unie
* Oranjewerkers
* Orde Boerevolk
* PAVN
* PFP
* Progressive Party (Cape Colony)
* Progressive Party
* PRP
* Radio Freedom
* Reform Party
* SABP
* SADECO
* SAIC
* SASO
* SAYCO
* SAYRCO
* South African Party (Cape Colony)
* South African Party (1911–1934)
* South African Party (1977–1980)
* TNIP
* Torch Commando
* UFP
* United Party
* Unionist Party
* Volksparty
* Workers Party
* WOSA

|

Trade unions and
social movements|

* APF
* BCM
* BLATU
* CNETU
* CTSWU
* FCWU
* FNETU
* FOSATU
* ICU
* IWW
* MUSA
* NEUM
* NURHS
* PAWE
* SAAPAWU
* SACTU
* SAIF
* SARHU
* SATUC
* Die Spoorbund
* UDF
* Umkosi Wezintaba

Paramilitary and
terrorist organisations|

* APLA
* ARM
* AWB
* BBB
* Boeremag
* Greyshirts
* MK
* Ossewabrandwag
* Orde van die Dood
* PAGAD
* SANF

Histories of
political parties|

* African National Congress
* Democratic Alliance
* Pan Africanist Congress of Azania

Category

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Environmentalism in Africa

Sovereign states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with limited
recognition

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

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Environmentalism

* Outline of environmentalism

Key topics|

* Environmental movement
* History
* Organizations
* Environmental studies
* Human impact on the environment

Disciplines|

* Communication
* Ecology
* Education
* Ethics
* Health
* History
* Humanities
* Law
* Philosophy
* Politics
* Psychology
* Religion
* Science
* Social science
* Sociology

Views|

| Philosophical|

* Political ecology
* Environmental philosophy
* Biocentrism
* Deep ecology
* Earth jurisprudence
* Ecocentrism
* Resacralization of nature
* Social ecology

|

Political|

* Bioconservatism
* Bright green environmentalism
* Eco-capitalism
* Ecofascism
* Ecofeminism
* Eco-nationalism
* Eco-socialism
* Eco-terrorism
* Ecomodernism
* Free-market environmentalism
* Green anarchism
* Green conservatism
* Green left
* Green liberalism
* Green libertarianism
* Green politics
* Green syndicalism

Religious|

* Ecotheology
* Christianity
* Evangelical
* Islam
* Judaism

Opposition|

* Anti-environmentalism
* Environmental skepticism

* Biophilia hypothesis
* Environmentalism of the poor
* Environmental stewardship
* Hairshirt environmentalism
* Hardline
* Nature conservation
* Radical environmentalism

Offshoots|

* Anti-fracking movement
* Anti-nuclear movement
* Car-free movement
* Climate movement
* Conservation movement
* Cultural environmentalism
* Degrowth
* Earth Optimism
* Environmental justice
* Flight shame
* Slow movement

Goals|

* Circular economy
* Climate change mitigation
* Conservation community
* Ecological civilization
* Environmental personhood
* Environmental protection
* Environmental policy
* Environmental, social, and corporate governance
* Environmentally friendly
* Greening
* Green economy
* Greenwashing
* Natural resource management
* Environmental resource management
* Rights of nature
* Short-haul flight ban
* Sustainability
* Vegetarianism
* Protests
* Tree sitting

By country|

* Albania
* Australia
* Brazil
* Rio Grande do Sul
* China
* Anti-incinerator movement
* India
* Chipko movement
* Israel
* New Zealand
* Philippines
* South Africa
* Switzerland
* United Kingdom
* United States

In culture|

* Art
* Books
* Ecofiction
* Film
* list
* festivals
* horror
* Journalism
* The Lord of the Rings
* Music
* Ecomusicology
* Motorsport
* Sculpture
* Surfing
* Tourism
* Eco hotel
* Publications

Environmentalists|

* Environmentalist
* Environmental defender
* Water protector
* Environmental killings

| Notable people|

* Sunderlal Bahuguna
* Murray Bookchin
* David Brower
* Rachel Carson
* Jacques Cousteau
* Ng Cho-nam
* Tim Flannery
* Al Gore
* Aldo Leopold
* Wangari Maathai
* Seyyed Hossein Nasr
* Chico Mendes
* John Muir
* Theodore Roosevelt
* Shōzō Tanaka
* Greta Thunberg

|

Related topics|

* Barriers to pro-environmental behaviour
* Land ethic
* Lifeboat ethics
* Stewardship (theology)
* Tragedy of the commons

Environment portal

Portals:

* South Africa
* Politics
* Environment
* Society

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