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Youth leaders, civil society groups and grassroots movements are organising actions across South Africa to press for change in the country’s energy policy and practices. The events calling for citizens action for a sustainable energy sector in South Africa is being organised for September 22nd, 2021, as part of activities marking the Global Day of Climate Action on September 24th, 2021.

The theme for the global actions is “Uproot The System.” Accordingly, the organisers of the South Africa’s events said they will by pushing to #UprootTheDMRE. They are calling for change in the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE).

“We are mobilising for a just energy and mining future in South Africa,” the coalition of group said. “We believe the DMRE is blocking the flow of energy into our democracy. They are ignoring the voices of those most impacted by energy planning decisions, leaving many without access to basic electricity and approving polluting projects while our just transition to renewable energy languishes on Mantashe’s desk.”

The coalition said climate justice and South Africa’s shared energy future demand action and that citizens are acting now.

Their activities will hold in Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, and Northern, Western and Eastern Cape provinces.  

At Limpopo, community members from Lephalale, Mokopane and Tzaneen will meet at the Limpopo Regional Office of DMRE to hand over their demands. A group will meet at Burgers Park Tshwane and march to the head office of the DMRE on Francis Baard Street. Information session to ban fracking, picketing and a workshop are part of the activities on the programme of action. Also, the organisers plan a meet up in front of the parliament building in Cape and protest at the DMRE Drilling Site in Beaufort West.