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Press Release: South African Government Shows Poor Commitment to the African Continent

Press Release: South African Government Shows Poor Commitment to the African Continent
08 DECEMBER 2009, COPENHAGEN
groundWork, Earthlife Africa Jhb, SDCEA

At a side meeting for African civil society organisations, the Chairperson of the G77 and China, from Sudan, mentioned that Africa is getting a raw deal and is being forced to sign their death sentence. He highlighted the division within the Africa group and mentioned that South Africa has been key to the division that has been created.

This is of concern to us given the South African government’s triumphant press release on Monday 07 December 2009 on its emission cuts. It is clear that there is fundamental disagreement between the South African negotiators and the rest of the African group. South Africa must stop selling the continent to the highest bidder.

The meeting supported the following course of action:

* Africa must produce a text that takes their concerns into account.
* The US$10 billion climate pledge proposed by developed countries is unacceptable.
* Parliamentarians must refuse to sign a watered down agreement.
* Civil society around the world must take hard hitting action to push their governments for an equitable and binding agreement.

The Ambassador concluded saying that:” I would rather die with dignity than sign an agreement that will tunnel my people into an inferno. And if there is no equitable deal then let there be no deal.”
WE call on the South African government to stop playing political games and to ensure that they do not sign a watered down agreement. Their true commitment can be seen in how they will respond to the big polluters in South Africa; in order to have effective emissions mitigation, the South African will have to change Eskom’s generation path (coal and nuclear) and Sasol’s coal-to-liquids expansion.

For more information, please contact (in Denmark):
groundWork – Siziwe Khanyile, +4541660303
Earthlife Africa Jhb – Ferrial Adam, +4552695131
SDCEA – Lushendrie Naidu, +4551287517