Where: Gates of Parliament, corner of Plein and Roeland Streets

Time: 10h30 to 12h00

More than 500 people from diverse sectors of society gathered in front of the gates of Parliament on Saturday 22 Sept, to call for a ban on fracking in South Africa. The protest, which was part of a global anti-fracking day, was organised and supported by several civil organisations, namely Earthlife Africa Cape Town, SAFCEI, the Coalition for Environmental Justice and Treasure the Karoo Action Group.

Several speakers, including Muna Lakhani (ELA CT), Bishop Geoff Davies (SAFCEI), Jonathan Deal (TKAG) and Barry Wuganale (Ogoni Solidarity Forum) urged the government not to fall for the empty promises of multinational oil and gas companies at the expense of current and future generations of our country. They called on all South Africans to stand together, not to allow polluting oil and gas industries to destroy our land and scarce water resources for their corporate profit, and demanded a truly renewable, sustainable energy future for all. A memorandum condemning the South African government’s decision to lift the moratorium and calling for a ban on fracking was read by Marina Louw, co-ordinator of the protest.

“We have invited Minister Shabangu to receive the memorandum. We trust that she will take the voices represented here seriously enough to accept,” said Muna Lakhani, branch co-ordinator of Earthlife Africa Cape Town. A copy of the same memorandum was handed to Minister of Energy, Dipuo Peters during a meeting with Earthlife Africa on Thursday.

A broad spectrum of organisations country-wide has already signed the memorandum. The list of nearly sixty organisations (as of 22 Sept), includes the Southern Cape Land Committee, which represents landless rural people and emerging farmers in the Karoo. The SCLC also sent a message of solidarity that was read at the protest (see at end of email for full text).

Other anti-fracking events in South Africa on 22 September include a demonstration organised by Earthlife Africa eThekwini in Durban, and in Prins Albert, local residents wrapped trees in black cloth and placed black wreaths in shop windows.