While most early conservationists, with few exceptions, implicated themselves in the
apartheid system[citation needed], groups such as
Earthlife Africa were consciously aware of their role as nurturers of freedom and human rights as well as the rights of the earth and animal kingdom. The
Cape Town Ecology Group for example, openly campaigned for political freedoms with a platform that "ecologised politics and politicised ecology".[1]
During apartheid while political parties were banned, environmental groups served as an outlet for activism and political expression. In
Durban, the
Environmental Justice Network, sprung up alongside anti-apartheid issues that affected the environment as well as the rights of workers. While many radical environmentalists were later absorbed into the governing
African National Congress, some toyed with the formation of a political party that would represent green interests.
The environmental movement moved into the political space in 1989 with the establishment of the Ecology Party, which disbanded shortly thereafter. In 1992 Ian Brownlie launched the Green Party, but it too disbanded after a disastrous election campaign in
1994. Judy Sole then founded the Government of the People Green Party in 1999.
1955:
Congress_of_the_People_(1955) held at Kliptown. Freedom Charter includes article on agrarian & environmental rights, in particular 'save the soil'.
1976
Koeberg Alert founded following the decision to site South Africa's first nuclear power station only 30 kms from Cape Town
1977: The Dolphin Action & Protection Group founded with the motto and policy 'Dolphins Should Be Free'.
1983: Koeberg Alert reconstituted, "broadens the focus of the protest" to place the entire nuclear issue "within its social, political and economic context."
1988:
Earthlife Africa formed; Khanyisa, environmental awareness organisation founded in townships of Langa, Nyanga, Guguletu and Khayelitsha
1989:
Earthlife Africa exposes mercury poisoning of workers at Thor Chemicals;[3]Kagenna Magazine is published; Green Action Forum founded by Greg Knill. Establishment of the Ecology Party in Cape Town.
1991:
First National Conference on Environment and Development; Environmental Monitoring Group releases a document "Towards Sustainable Development in South Africa";[4] General
Magnus Malan takes over as new Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry; Bev Geach of the Weekly Mail publishes The Green Pages, a directory of environmental groups
1992: Earthlife Africa pressurizes the government for an inquiry into asbestos related deaths. Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF) formed at an ELA conference. Establishment of the Green Party by activists in Cape Town.
1993: Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) founded.
Post-Apartheid Era
1994: After South Africa's first democratic election, environmental rights submitted for debate to the Constitutional Assembly.
1996: South Africa's Bill of Rights proclaims: "Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being."
1997: The ANC government moves to provide lead-free petrol as one of its first pro-environment policies
1998: The Truth Commission hears about asbestos-related deaths from mining
1999: Groundwork (GW), a non-profit, environmental justice service and development organization founded by 3 ex-EJNF activists. Founding of the Government by the People Green Party by Judy Sole.
2000: South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) formed;
eThekwini ECOPEACE wins one seat in the eThekwini Municipal Council, the first time a Green Party of any sort in South Africa has won at the polls
2003: Asbestos Relief Trust (ART) set up, and the Kgalagadi Relief Trust (KRT), both of which evaluate claims and provide compensation for qualified claimants. A media statement, indicates that the ban on the use of asbestos and asbestos-related materials was "well overdue." National Energy Caucus founded.
2006:
Eskom, South Africa's national energy utility issues energy-saving lightbulbs to consumers as part of a "demand-side" energy-reduction campaign.
Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism holds hearings on nuclear power. First evidence of contamination and worker-related deaths caused b exposure to radiation.
2009: South Africa participates in the Copenhagen Climate Change round.
2010: SA Government announces mothballing of
PBMR. Edna Molewa appointed Minister of Environment under Jacob Zuma.
2011: South Africa hosts
COP17 in Durban, a new framework emerges. Allied
Climate & Health Conference releases "Durban Declaration" declaring a health emergency, signed by 250 medical professionals and public health organisations.
2019: Barbara Creecy sworn in as new Minister of Environment under Ramaphosa. The Government of the People Green Party participated in the 2019 National and Provincial Elections and obtained 0,13% of the vote in the Western Cape Province, but no parliamentary
seatArchived 22 April 2009 at the
Wayback Machine.
2021: The Greens contested the Local Government Elections in the Cape Town metropole but did not secure a seat in the
councilArchived 22 April 2009 at the
Wayback Machine.
2022: March, "Deadly Air" case heard in South Africa. Court confirms the constitutional right of the country’s citizens to an environment that isn’t harmful to their health. This includes the right to clean air, as exposure to air pollution affects human health. [5]
September, Shell 'Wild Coast' Ocean Exploration Case heard. High Court in Makhanda ruled that Shell’s exploration right to conduct seismic surveys on the Wild Coast of South Africa was granted unlawfully and therefore set it aside. [6]
^Lewis, D R, "Ending the Apartheid of the Environment", South, Southside Environment, 7–13 March 1991, p19
^Khan, Farieda, Rewriting South Africa's Conservation History-The Role of the Native Farmers Association, Journal of Southern African Studies
Vol. 20, No. 4 (Dec., 1994), pp. 499-516
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2636969
^Vlavianos, Chris, Communities celebrate as Court sets aside Shell’s exploration right off the Wild Coast of South Africahttps://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/52171/press-release-communities-celebrate-as-court-sets-aside-shells-exploration-right-off-the-wild-coast-of-south-africa/
While most early conservationists, with few exceptions, implicated themselves in the
apartheid system[citation needed], groups such as
Earthlife Africa were consciously aware of their role as nurturers of freedom and human rights as well as the rights of the earth and animal kingdom. The
Cape Town Ecology Group for example, openly campaigned for political freedoms with a platform that "ecologised politics and politicised ecology".[1]
During apartheid while political parties were banned, environmental groups served as an outlet for activism and political expression. In
Durban, the
Environmental Justice Network, sprung up alongside anti-apartheid issues that affected the environment as well as the rights of workers. While many radical environmentalists were later absorbed into the governing
African National Congress, some toyed with the formation of a political party that would represent green interests.
The environmental movement moved into the political space in 1989 with the establishment of the Ecology Party, which disbanded shortly thereafter. In 1992 Ian Brownlie launched the Green Party, but it too disbanded after a disastrous election campaign in
1994. Judy Sole then founded the Government of the People Green Party in 1999.
1955:
Congress_of_the_People_(1955) held at Kliptown. Freedom Charter includes article on agrarian & environmental rights, in particular 'save the soil'.
1976
Koeberg Alert founded following the decision to site South Africa's first nuclear power station only 30 kms from Cape Town
1977: The Dolphin Action & Protection Group founded with the motto and policy 'Dolphins Should Be Free'.
1983: Koeberg Alert reconstituted, "broadens the focus of the protest" to place the entire nuclear issue "within its social, political and economic context."
1988:
Earthlife Africa formed; Khanyisa, environmental awareness organisation founded in townships of Langa, Nyanga, Guguletu and Khayelitsha
1989:
Earthlife Africa exposes mercury poisoning of workers at Thor Chemicals;[3]Kagenna Magazine is published; Green Action Forum founded by Greg Knill. Establishment of the Ecology Party in Cape Town.
1991:
First National Conference on Environment and Development; Environmental Monitoring Group releases a document "Towards Sustainable Development in South Africa";[4] General
Magnus Malan takes over as new Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry; Bev Geach of the Weekly Mail publishes The Green Pages, a directory of environmental groups
1992: Earthlife Africa pressurizes the government for an inquiry into asbestos related deaths. Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF) formed at an ELA conference. Establishment of the Green Party by activists in Cape Town.
1993: Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) founded.
Post-Apartheid Era
1994: After South Africa's first democratic election, environmental rights submitted for debate to the Constitutional Assembly.
1996: South Africa's Bill of Rights proclaims: "Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being."
1997: The ANC government moves to provide lead-free petrol as one of its first pro-environment policies
1998: The Truth Commission hears about asbestos-related deaths from mining
1999: Groundwork (GW), a non-profit, environmental justice service and development organization founded by 3 ex-EJNF activists. Founding of the Government by the People Green Party by Judy Sole.
2000: South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) formed;
eThekwini ECOPEACE wins one seat in the eThekwini Municipal Council, the first time a Green Party of any sort in South Africa has won at the polls
2003: Asbestos Relief Trust (ART) set up, and the Kgalagadi Relief Trust (KRT), both of which evaluate claims and provide compensation for qualified claimants. A media statement, indicates that the ban on the use of asbestos and asbestos-related materials was "well overdue." National Energy Caucus founded.
2006:
Eskom, South Africa's national energy utility issues energy-saving lightbulbs to consumers as part of a "demand-side" energy-reduction campaign.
Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism holds hearings on nuclear power. First evidence of contamination and worker-related deaths caused b exposure to radiation.
2009: South Africa participates in the Copenhagen Climate Change round.
2010: SA Government announces mothballing of
PBMR. Edna Molewa appointed Minister of Environment under Jacob Zuma.
2011: South Africa hosts
COP17 in Durban, a new framework emerges. Allied
Climate & Health Conference releases "Durban Declaration" declaring a health emergency, signed by 250 medical professionals and public health organisations.
2019: Barbara Creecy sworn in as new Minister of Environment under Ramaphosa. The Government of the People Green Party participated in the 2019 National and Provincial Elections and obtained 0,13% of the vote in the Western Cape Province, but no parliamentary
seatArchived 22 April 2009 at the
Wayback Machine.
2021: The Greens contested the Local Government Elections in the Cape Town metropole but did not secure a seat in the
councilArchived 22 April 2009 at the
Wayback Machine.
2022: March, "Deadly Air" case heard in South Africa. Court confirms the constitutional right of the country’s citizens to an environment that isn’t harmful to their health. This includes the right to clean air, as exposure to air pollution affects human health. [5]
September, Shell 'Wild Coast' Ocean Exploration Case heard. High Court in Makhanda ruled that Shell’s exploration right to conduct seismic surveys on the Wild Coast of South Africa was granted unlawfully and therefore set it aside. [6]
^Lewis, D R, "Ending the Apartheid of the Environment", South, Southside Environment, 7–13 March 1991, p19
^Khan, Farieda, Rewriting South Africa's Conservation History-The Role of the Native Farmers Association, Journal of Southern African Studies
Vol. 20, No. 4 (Dec., 1994), pp. 499-516
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2636969
^Vlavianos, Chris, Communities celebrate as Court sets aside Shell’s exploration right off the Wild Coast of South Africahttps://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/press/52171/press-release-communities-celebrate-as-court-sets-aside-shells-exploration-right-off-the-wild-coast-of-south-africa/