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Latest news, opportunities, and upcoming activities

The beginning of South African Energy Month, May 2023.

Latest News

Energy and Climate Justice

Organisations compel government to develop SA’s energy plan

A week ago, on 28 April 2023, the President finally published, in the Government Gazette, his decision to bring Section 6 of the National Energy Act (NEA), into operation. A couple of days before that The Green Connection and the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI) received correspondence from the State Attorney on behalf of the President and the Minister in the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), that the President had decided to bring Section 6 into operation with effect from 1 April 2024. 


This follows more than two (2) years of unsuccessful correspondence with the President and Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, in which The Green Connection and SAFCEI urged the President to bring Section 6 into operation. The goal of that engagement was to progress and develop a proper Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) in compliance with Section 6, for the country. After the President still hadn't taken action, The Green Connection and SAFCEI launched legal proceedings in January 2023 to review (i) the President’s failure or refusal to bring Section 6 of the NEA into operation and (ii) the Minister’s failure or refusal to advise the President to bring Section 6 into effect.


SAFCEI’s Executive Director, Francesca de Gasparis says, “It is good news that the President has capitulated and that he has already made public his intention to bring Section 6 into operation, but 1 April 2024 to start the IEP process in terms of Section 6 seems to be kicking the can as far down the road as possible. And we have not seen real commitment from the government to do what is needed for the energy crisis to be addressed. The situation is incredibly urgent, South Africa is facing a long cold winter with power cuts over 6 hours per day at present. Why does the government need so much time to start the overarching plan for energy? Why plan for the IEP for next April 2024 when the energy crisis should be their top priority? This is not even the bare minimum of what is needed. Government must act faster!” 


#NuclearFreeSA #EnergyPlan4All


Read the full press release here.


See the latest Energy and Climate news here.

Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training

Second FLEAT Tanzania workshop

We held our second FLEAT Tanzania workshop with a group of 19 participants at the Rungwe Hotel in Dar es Salaam from 25 to 27 April 2023. The group of 10 women and 9 men from various Christian denominations and Islamic faith came together to share the activities they have done since their first introduction meeting last year. 


The three days were focused on learning about food systems in Southern Africa, specifically Tanzania. There was also a focus on energy and climate justice, with the group joining the 6th Anniversary of the nuclear deal court case anniversary, and conducting an eco-footprinting exercise at the workshop venue.


#FLEAT #FLEATTanzania


Read more about FLEAT Tanzania here.


See the latest FLEAT news here.

Rural Action for Climate Resilience

Herschel Legal Advice Office’s beekeeping project

We recently featured a Climate Champions Core Grant recipient from our Rural Action for Climate Resilience (RACR) project, Herschel Legal Advice Office, which is running a beekeeping project.


The grant is assisting with maintaining three beekeeping projects run by the Sunduza Bee-Keepers Project. Beekeepers have had the necessary bee-keeping training, and the grant has assisted with providing additional equipment and infrastructure for the project. The additional equipment has expanded their operation and promoted the growth of the population of bees in the area.


#climateresilience #ruralvoices


See the latest RACR project news here.

Campaigns

​​Join us for Phase 2 of our campaign against Pick n Pay

Our campaign against multi-national retailer, Pick n Pay has entered its second phase. Pick n Pay remain unwilling to make a cage-free commitment and end the cruel suffering of egg-laying hens.


Join us for Phase 2 of the campaign by commenting on Pick n Pay partners and affiliates social media posts, or make a new post and tag them. Sample comments are available here.


If you have not done so already, sign our petition against Pick n Pay cruelty here


#picknpaycruelty  #stoppicknpayabuse


Follow @safcei on social media for further cage-free campaign updates.

New at SAFCEI

We welcome Olwethu Mbuthuma as our new Junior Porgrammes Administrative Assistant. Olwethu will be assisting the SAFCEI programmes team in administrative tasks for programme delivery, finance and logistics. 


Olwethu has a background in Environmental Education, Administration and volunteering at an environmental justice organisation. She is currently finalising her studies in Environmental Management. She hails from the Bizana in the Eastern Cape.

Job Vaccancies

We will soon be recruiting for the position of Operations Director. Keep an eye on our website and social media pages for this opportunity.

Upcoming Events







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Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute · The Green Building · Bell Crescent, Westlake Office Park · Cape Town, Western Cape 7945 · South Africa