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Voices of the people. Power in unity. Together we are MACUA โ building justice for mining-affected communities.#nodecisionaboutuswithoutus #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
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Mining Affected Communities United in Action
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MACUA is a community-based, united front of mining-affected communities in South Africa with branches across the country. Nothing About Us Without Us!
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๐จ ๐ฃ๐๐๐'๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐๐ง ๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ!
โ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช: ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ญ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ!
While South Africa celebrates billion-rand renewable energy investments, impoverished communities in Theunissen are fighting for something as basic as the right to be heard.
For months, communities surrounding the 100MW Sonvanger Solar Power Plant have demanded transparency, meaningful participation and a binding Community Development Agreement.
Instead, they have encountered corporate arrogance, dismissive responses and now explicit warnings of potential legal action and financial liability against community leaders.
โ ๏ธ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฌ!
On 9 November, Daily Maverick revealed serious governance turmoil at Pele Energy Group, including executive leadership changes, the resignation of its independent board chairperson and an independent corporate governance investigation.
Yet this is the same company whose project representatives have spent months dismissing the concerns of affected communities.
In a letter dated 5 November, Sonvanger, Pele and JUWI warned that MACUA/WAMUA and community leaders could face legal proceedings and claims for financial losses if tomorrow's gathering damages property, obstructs access or disrupts operations.
They then declared:
"๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐."
We recognise the obligation to gather peacefully and lawfully. But we also recognise the intimidating effect of powerful corporations invoking potential financial liability against community organisers.
๐ฅ ๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐จ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐, ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐ช๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ข๐๐ก๐ง๐๐. ๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ฆ!
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ๐. ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ก.
Sonvanger is intended to supply renewable electricity to Glencore-Merafe's industrial operations.
Developers, investors and commercial landowners participate in the economic opportunities associated with this major investment.
Meanwhile, surrounding communities continue struggling with poverty, unemployment and exclusion from decisions about development benefits.
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ท๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ. ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐.
๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
As governments, corporations, financiers and well-funded NGOs gather at international climate conferences to speak about climate justice, communities in Theunissen remain excluded from meaningful decision-making.
Billions are mobilised for climate finance, consultations, conferences and technical assistance.
But how much of that money actually transfers power to the communities in whose name it is raised?
๐๐ข๐ช ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ?
This is the ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ โ where the suffering of marginalised communities generates funding, influence and institutional legitimacy without necessarily changing the structures that keep those communities marginalised.
โ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช, ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ก ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ฆ!
MACUA/WAMUA will launch its report:
๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ, ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ
๐ Wednesday, 11 November 2026
๐ 10h00
๐ Sonvanger Solar Power Plant area, near Theunissen, Free State
๐ฅ More than 1,000 community members expected
We demand a binding Community Development Agreement, independent scrutiny of unresolved grievances, transparency from financiers and meaningful accountability from the developers.
๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ. ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐!
๐ข We call on communities, activists, civil society organisations, journalists and all defenders of social and environmental justice to stand with the people of Theunissen.
๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ'๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ!
๐ Read the Daily Maverick investigation:
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-1โฆ
๐ Media enquiries: Sabelo Mnguni โ 083 563 8985
MACUA | WAMUA
#GreenPowerOldInequality #Sonvanger #Theunissen #JustEnergyTransition #ClimateJustice #CommunityRights #MACUA #WAMUA #FalseBenevolenceEconomy
โ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช: ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ญ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ!
While South Africa celebrates billion-rand renewable energy investments, impoverished communities in Theunissen are fighting for something as basic as the right to be heard.
For months, communities surrounding the 100MW Sonvanger Solar Power Plant have demanded transparency, meaningful participation and a binding Community Development Agreement.
Instead, they have encountered corporate arrogance, dismissive responses and now explicit warnings of potential legal action and financial liability against community leaders.
โ ๏ธ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฌ!
On 9 November, Daily Maverick revealed serious governance turmoil at Pele Energy Group, including executive leadership changes, the resignation of its independent board chairperson and an independent corporate governance investigation.
Yet this is the same company whose project representatives have spent months dismissing the concerns of affected communities.
In a letter dated 5 November, Sonvanger, Pele and JUWI warned that MACUA/WAMUA and community leaders could face legal proceedings and claims for financial losses if tomorrow's gathering damages property, obstructs access or disrupts operations.
They then declared:
"๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐."
We recognise the obligation to gather peacefully and lawfully. But we also recognise the intimidating effect of powerful corporations invoking potential financial liability against community organisers.
๐ฅ ๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐จ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐, ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐ช๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ข๐๐ก๐ง๐๐. ๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ฆ!
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ๐. ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ก.
Sonvanger is intended to supply renewable electricity to Glencore-Merafe's industrial operations.
Developers, investors and commercial landowners participate in the economic opportunities associated with this major investment.
Meanwhile, surrounding communities continue struggling with poverty, unemployment and exclusion from decisions about development benefits.
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ท๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ. ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐.
๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
As governments, corporations, financiers and well-funded NGOs gather at international climate conferences to speak about climate justice, communities in Theunissen remain excluded from meaningful decision-making.
Billions are mobilised for climate finance, consultations, conferences and technical assistance.
But how much of that money actually transfers power to the communities in whose name it is raised?
๐๐ข๐ช ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ง ๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ?
This is the ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ โ where the suffering of marginalised communities generates funding, influence and institutional legitimacy without necessarily changing the structures that keep those communities marginalised.
โ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ช, ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ก ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ฆ!
MACUA/WAMUA will launch its report:
๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ, ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ
๐ Wednesday, 11 November 2026
๐ 10h00
๐ Sonvanger Solar Power Plant area, near Theunissen, Free State
๐ฅ More than 1,000 community members expected
We demand a binding Community Development Agreement, independent scrutiny of unresolved grievances, transparency from financiers and meaningful accountability from the developers.
๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ. ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐!
๐ข We call on communities, activists, civil society organisations, journalists and all defenders of social and environmental justice to stand with the people of Theunissen.
๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ'๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ!
๐ Read the Daily Maverick investigation:
dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-1โฆ
๐ Media enquiries: Sabelo Mnguni โ 083 563 8985
MACUA | WAMUA
#GreenPowerOldInequality #Sonvanger #Theunissen #JustEnergyTransition #ClimateJustice #CommunityRights #MACUA #WAMUA #FalseBenevolenceEconomy
www.dailymaverick.co.za Peleรขโฌโขs governance test: Why a private boardroom matters to SAรขโฌโขs energy transition A governance crisis at Pele Energy Group has brought an important question into focus: How should a rapidly growing, founder-led South African renewable energy business balance entrepreneurial... ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ, ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ!
โ๏ธ Billions invested in renewable energy. Communities fighting for a voice.
Sonvanger says the project is over 93% complete and further negotiations are a poor use of time.
๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก?
๐ฅ Watch our documentary ๐
youtu.be/PC_a9lEuOeM
#Sonvanger #EnergyJustice
โ๏ธ Billions invested in renewable energy. Communities fighting for a voice.
Sonvanger says the project is over 93% complete and further negotiations are a poor use of time.
๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก?
๐ฅ Watch our documentary ๐
youtu.be/PC_a9lEuOeM
#Sonvanger #EnergyJustice
www.youtube.com Sonvanger - Green Power Old Inequality # GREEN POWER, OLD INEQUALITY | THE SONVANGER STORY**Who benefits... โ๏ธโ๐พ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐ข๐ช๐๐ฅ, ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ!
Billions committed to a Just Energy Transition. Millions for consultations. But where are the rights, jobs and economic power for communities?
This is the ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ฌ. ๐งต 1/5
Billions committed to a Just Energy Transition. Millions for consultations. But where are the rights, jobs and economic power for communities?
This is the ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ฌ. ๐งต 1/5
โ๐ฟ FROM THE BALLOT BOX TO THE JUST TRANSITION: PARTICIPATION WITHOUT POWER IS NOT DEMOCRACY!
What do South Africa's declining electoral participation and the exclusion of mining-affected communities from the Just Energy Transition have in common?
Both expose a democracy increasingly organised around the appearance of participation rather than the actual redistribution of power.
Citizens are invited to vote, communities are invited to consultations, and stakeholders are invited to dialogues. Yet the fundamental decisions about land, energy, investment and development remain concentrated in the hands of political and economic elites.
As MACUA prepares to launch its forthcoming report examining the Sonvanger Solar Project, we are asking a fundamental question:
Can an energy transition truly be called JUST when the communities who live with its consequences have little meaningful power to determine its direction or share in its benefits?
The Sonvanger experience raises uncomfortable questions about whether South Africa's green energy transition is transforming the extractive economic model or simply reproducing its inequalities under the banner of sustainability.
Our forthcoming report will examine these contradictions and challenge the growing tendency to confuse consultation with consent, representation with accountability, and investment with development.
Democracy cannot end at the ballot box. And justice cannot begin and end with a consultation meeting.
Read the reflection, From Ballot Box to Just Transition: Participation Without Power, as we build towards the launch of our Sonvanger report.
๐ From ballot box to just transition: Participation without power share.google/QVx1fqg1Ilz9Fjโฆ
#Sonvanger #ParticipationWithoutPower #JustEnergyTransition #EnergyDemocracy #MiningJustice #MACUA #CommunityPower #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs
What do South Africa's declining electoral participation and the exclusion of mining-affected communities from the Just Energy Transition have in common?
Both expose a democracy increasingly organised around the appearance of participation rather than the actual redistribution of power.
Citizens are invited to vote, communities are invited to consultations, and stakeholders are invited to dialogues. Yet the fundamental decisions about land, energy, investment and development remain concentrated in the hands of political and economic elites.
As MACUA prepares to launch its forthcoming report examining the Sonvanger Solar Project, we are asking a fundamental question:
Can an energy transition truly be called JUST when the communities who live with its consequences have little meaningful power to determine its direction or share in its benefits?
The Sonvanger experience raises uncomfortable questions about whether South Africa's green energy transition is transforming the extractive economic model or simply reproducing its inequalities under the banner of sustainability.
Our forthcoming report will examine these contradictions and challenge the growing tendency to confuse consultation with consent, representation with accountability, and investment with development.
Democracy cannot end at the ballot box. And justice cannot begin and end with a consultation meeting.
Read the reflection, From Ballot Box to Just Transition: Participation Without Power, as we build towards the launch of our Sonvanger report.
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www.dailymaverick.co.za From the ballot box to the just transition: Participation without power South Africaรขโฌโขs Just Energy Transition is reproducing a familiar democratic contradiction: communities are repeatedly invited to participate, while the power to determine their futures remains...