{"id":45217,"date":"2023-09-28T11:16:22","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T09:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/demands-for-people-centred-solutions-to-improve-lives-20230927\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T13:31:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T11:31:19","slug":"demands-for-people-centred-solutions-to-improve-lives-20230927","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/demands-for-people-centred-solutions-to-improve-lives-20230927\/","title":{"rendered":"EC COMMUNITIES MARCH FOR CHANGE: Demands for people-centred solutions to improve lives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On September 21, approximately 250 people from Kariega, Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, Oyster Bay and beyond \u2013 a collaboration between Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and the Eastern Cape Combined Environmental Forum \u2013 marched to Gqeberha City Hall to bring attention to their deteriorating quality of life because of severe water-access issues, in addition to persistent load shedding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affected communities are also calling out government\u2019s poor energy decisions \u2013 such as the proposals for offshore oil and gas, Karpowerships and the possible resurgence of plans for new nuclear in the province \u2013 which, they believe, are not in the public\u2019s interest and will worsen climate change. Water quality and water drainage problems and other infrastructure issues are the result. Some areas are built on old wetlands, so many houses have structural issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earthlife Africa\u2019s Ulrich Steenkamp says, \u201cWe are here to support communities in the Eastern Cape because the people are suffering. Not only must they deal with load shedding, but they are also dealing with serious issues affecting their access to clean, potable water. Because of the deterioration of their natural environment, coupled with the visible impacts of climate change \u2013 such as the storm surges and the freak waves that have been hitting the South African coastline \u2013 it is critical that the people\u2019s voices are heard. We need decision-makers to use their powers to improve the lives of communities, especially those who are the most heavily impacted, like our country\u2019s fishermen and -women. These are people who cannot afford to have industries that could harm the ocean and coastline, disrupting their way of life and posing a threat to their means of making a living.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"communities

<\/p>\n

Local communities marched to Gqeberha City Hall to bring attention to their deteriorating quality of life because of severe water-access issues, in addition to persistent loadshedding. Photo: Supplied<\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"\"

<\/p>\n

Local communities marched to Gqeberha City Hall to bring attention to their deteriorating quality of life because of severe water-access issues, in addition to persistent loadshedding. <\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Small-scale fisher communities such as those found in Oyster Bay and Jeffrey\u2019s Bay are particularly concerned about extractive projects proposed along the coast of the Eastern Cape. As fishing is the primary economic driver in these small coastal towns, offshore oil and gas exploration may have a negative impact on aquatic life and on the overall health of the ocean, which would affect local livelihoods. The fishers and coastal communities in the region are also opposing Karpowerships, as there are several concerns regarding the potential negative impact on the sea life and coastal environment. Fishers are worried about the impact these floating power stations will have on their livelihoods. Furthermore, communities are also concerned about the impact to the environment and the local economy now that there seems to be renewed interest in bringing new nuclear energy to the Eastern Cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"communities

<\/p>\n

Local communities marched to Gqeberha City Hall to bring attention to their deteriorating quality of life because of severe water-access issues, in addition to persistent loadshedding. <\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"communities

<\/p>\n

Local communities marched to Gqeberha City Hall to bring attention to their deteriorating quality of life because of severe water-access issues, in addition to persistent loadshedding. <\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe situation in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is bad. Water scarcity, water shedding and load shedding \u2013 these are major stumbling blocks for our people, negatively affecting our livelihoods and our businesses and affect our hopes for the future. The residents of Gqeberha feel like we are being neglected by those who occupy positions of authority because they don\u2019t even take time to engage the community regarding their so-called developments. Now, they want to make things worse with more offshore oil and gas exploitation, which will affect the livelihoods of our small-scale fishers. And they want to bring Karpowerships here, which will also affect local fishers. Then there\u2019s also the talk of building a new nuclear plant in our province, which the country cannot afford, and which will have negative impacts for our unique environment,\u201d says Thandokazi Hewu from Lean On Me, a community-based organisation in Zwide Gqeberha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phenius Nkatshuka, a fisherman from Jeffreys Bay says, \u201cAs fishermen, we are not happy about the government\u2019s plans for a nuclear power plant near our ocean. We depend on it for our livelihoods. And how will we support our families if they drill our sea for gas and oil? It is not that we are against change, but the change that comes must not take food from our tables. The change that comes, must make our lives better, not worse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISSUED BY MARIA WELCOME, ON BEHALF OF EARTHLIFE AFRICA JOHANNESBURG<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On September 21, approximately 250 people from Kariega, Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, Oyster Bay and beyond \u2013 a collaboration between Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and the Eastern Cape Combined Environmental Forum \u2013 marched to Gqeberha City Hall to bring attention to their deteriorating quality of life because of severe water-access issues, in addition to persistent load 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