We have sat together for 2 days, people from communities directly impacted by land, coastal
and ocean mining. We have listened to each other carefully and together we have written
this joint statement. It is frustrating for us that this statement is required at a time that many
scientists, governments, and communities have stood up and said NO to Oil and Gas because
it destroys our people and our planet. Nothing about us and our natural environment without us.
To be clear, nothing about us and our land without us, and nothing about us and our ocean
without us.
We have stood against fossil fuel mining on the land for many years. We are now coming
together with fishers, traditional healers and communities along the coastline to stand
against oil and gas in the oceans, coastal and offshore. We say NO to Oil and Gas because we
have seen the devastating history of extractive industries on our land and our people. We
say NO to Oil and Gas because we must protect our species and ecosystems, community
livelihoods, food security and spiritual connections with nature that are fundamental to our
belief systems. We say NO to Oil and Gas because we must protect our future generations
and ensure that they do not suffer worse hardships than we are facing today!
We are not anti-development. We want environmentally sustainable development which is
people driven and starts with local economies that safeguards our respect for nature. We
respect nature and live in harmony with the ocean and the land that feeds and sustain us
and our ecosystems. We are calling on the National Government to stop this divisive rhetoric
that pits people against each other.
We are calling on National Government to place a mortarium on all new Oil and Gas
developments. We can no longer accept Profit over People. We are standing together now
to ensure that we find solutions to our economic, Climate and energy crisis in ways that
commit to a dignified and just transition away from burning fossil fuels, and towards
participatory energy planning for sustainable futures. Engage us, empower us, and respect
our livelihoods.
Historic Statements: Mawubuye umhlaba wethu – Bring back our land
• AN OPEN LETTER FROM UNDER-THREAT SMALL-SCALE FISHERS TO THE MINISTERS OF MINERAL
RESOURCES AND ENERGY AND FORESTRY, FISHING AND ENVIRONMENT, December, 2021
• Statement from the 7th Peoples Gathering to Resist Gas Expansion and Focus on Food held on 1st November 2021, Johannesburg
• Statement from the National Gasdown Frackdown Gathering – South Africa Thursday, 11th October2018, Durban, South Africa
• Statement of the participants from a dialogue on fracking and the expansion of fossil fuels to build
unity, solidarity and learning, held in the Eastern Cape town of Matatiele on the 3rd to 5th of October 2016.
• Statement of the participants to a dialogue on fracking held in the Karoo town of Graaff Reinet from the 24 – 25 August 2015.
Signed by:
Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation
Ubunye amaHostela
Aliwal Shoal Rock and Surf
The Green Connection
KwaZulu-Natal Subsistence Fisherfolk Forum
Right to Know
Coastal Links Northern Cape
Environmental Traits
Moeggesukkel Visserye Co-operative Limited
Environmental Rural Solution
South African Fishers Collective
Masifundise Development Trust
Sustaining the Wild Coast
Oceans not Oil
Sandile Shibase
Mnafu Co-operative
Mnini Co-operative
Qhakaza Mathuli co-operative
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)
Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC)
Amadiba Crisis Committee
Layla Abrahams
Chief Brendan Billings Khoisan Tribes
Jeff White (Oceans not Oil)
Raymond Meye (Oceans not Oil)
Coastal Links KZN
Free State Water Caucus
Siyadida Tuma
Xolile Ziqubu (Ubunye amaHostela)
The Green Net
Abahlali baseMjondolo
National Association of Fishermen
Traditional Healer (UBH)
Deon Spandiel
Eastern Cape Khoisan Fishers
Jeffery Naicker
VEJA
Anti-pollution Watchdogs
groundWork
Coastal Justice Networ
