The Eastern Cape’s 20 community organisations, members of the Province’s Combined Environmental Forum (ECCEF), want the Government and industry, to think practically about the future of disasters, using the recent floods in Kariega and KwanoBuhle, as a platform.

On Thursday 26 September, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, and the ECCEF took to the streets of Kariega in Uitenhage, part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

The protest by organisations from neighbouring communities of Uitenhage, Jeffrey’s Bay, Humansdorp, and Gqeberha, are marching, to highlight the struggles of communities who continue to face severe hardships, after the July floods.

Ulrich Steenkamp, Campaign Coordinator at Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, said the floods highlight what climate change can do.
There has been a slow response in helping the victims and with weather conditions expected to get worse, people, will suffer more and more.

He said another area hard hit by the July floods,  is KwanoBuhle, which neighbours an industrial area.
“We are tired of air pollution. We want a diversion from fossil fuels and a focus on a Just Transition to a low carbon economy.”

Steenkamp also said “we are marching not just for flood victims, but for the future of our communities. These floods are a clear signal of the growing threat of climate change, and both government and industry need to step up and take responsibility before it’s too late.”

Picture: Supplied

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