Byline: Thendo Funyufunyu
Monday, 06 February 2023
The parliament’s portfolio committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment held a public hearing on the climate change bill at the Sasol Community Recreational Centre Hall in eMbalenhle on Friday, 03 February 2023.
People from different community areas around Govan Mbeki Municipality lodged several complaints about how they are affected by the Sasol flare which burns 24hr, which results in causing bad climate change in their environment and causes different illnesses to the community through inhaling the steam from the Sasol flare.
Whereas everyone has the constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being, and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
“The way the Sasol flare burns 24hr is harmful, the steam affects our health and causes climate change that we did not anticipate as a community,” said Johannes Kahadebe eMbalenhle community member.
The MEC of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, stated that as Member of executive council their objective is to enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term just transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy and society for the community in the context of sustainable development.
“We will strengthen our work, and as the department we will work on all things that are affecting our community’s members to resolve the issue of climate change,” said MEC Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.
In closing, the portfolio committee promised to note everything that has been said by the community. Nevertheless, they will visit Sasol and later on they will provide the community with feedback.
