Follow Cleo across South Africa: Free State

At the end of July, CJC organiser Cleopatra Shezi and coordinator Busi Zasekhaya visited communities in the Free State for community mapping and workshops, working alongside steering committee member Motlatsi Makhasane (Working for Climate), Thandiwe Tess Tshaka (Botshabelo Unemployed Movement) and other CJC members. In Botshabelo, the workshop on energy racism and IDP education sparked vital conversations about the daily impacts of environmental harm. In Welkom, young people spoke about how the energy crisis and water scarcity are destroying their future — making it impossible to grow food because of damaged soil and lack of water.

In Thabong, residents voiced anger at being denied access to water, food, and electricity, yet still being expected to vote for parties that show no remorse.

Across all communities, the message was the same: “The time to correct the system is now. Our communities are damaged, and no one is prepared to pay for the loss and damages. System change, not climate change!”