A Region Rich in Resources, Yet Left Behind
In the mineral-rich lands of Sekhukhune, mining companies have extracted vast wealth for decades. Chromium, platinum, and other valuable minerals are pulled from the earth, fueling industries and economies far beyond South Africa’s borders. Yet, the communities living in the shadow of these operations see little benefit. Unemployment remains staggeringly high, infrastructure is underdeveloped, and basic services like clean water and sanitation are a luxury rather than a given.
Despite legal requirements for mining companies to invest in local development through Social and Labour Plans¹ (SLPs), these projects often fail to materialise. Frustrated but not discouraged, the Sekhukhune Combined Mining-Affected Communities (SCMAC), a grassroots movement fighting for justice and sustainable development, is taking matters into its own hands, pushing for a bold solution: community-owned renewable energy.
A Vision for Energy Independence
The idea is simple but transformative. SCMAC proposes that mining-affected communities establish solar farms through cooperatives to generate electricity for their own use. Any surplus energy could then be sold to the mines or the national grid, with the profits going directly into community-led initiatives such as schools, healthcare facilities, and small businesses.
This idea isn’t new or just a theory. Around the world, including Brazil and Indonesia², similar community-owned renewable projects have generated sustainable income and improved local economies. With proper investment and government backing, there’s no reason Sekhukhune’s villages can’t become energy-independent and better off economically.
The SCMAC Gathering: Turning Vision Into Action
On February 28, SCMAC met in Morapaneng, a village in Burgersfort, Limpopo, with Sekhunkhune’s mining-affected community members and civil society organisations to discuss their vision for community-owned renewable energy. The gathering was a space for learning and strategising. Participants shared their experiences with unreliable electricity, the environmental impacts of mining, the urgent need for sustainable alternatives and their hopes for a just transition to renewable energy.
SCMAC, in collaboration with organisations including 350.org, Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, has been working on research into the viability of community-owned renewable energy. The report titled “Concrete Models Of Socially Owned Renewable Energy: The Case of Sekhukhune Combined Mining Affected Communities” initially points out that not only is community ownership of renewables achievable, but it could serve as a model for mining-affected communities across South Africa. The final report will be launched in May 2025.
A key takeaway from the community gathering is the importance of community participation in shaping energy solutions, not just as beneficiaries but as active decision-makers and owners.
A Just Transition: Power to the People
The energy transition is inevitable; the question is: who will benefit from it? Will it be the same corporations that have historically exploited natural resources, or will it be the people who have suffered the consequences of that exploitation?
SCMAC’s campaign for community-owned renewable energy is a bold step toward a just transition that doesn’t just swap coal for solar but ensures that the benefits of the transition are shared equitably. Their work is a powerful reminder that true justice isn’t just about reducing carbon emissions; it’s about redistributing power (both economic and electrical) to those who need it most.
As the fight for climate justice intensifies, initiatives like SCMACs serve as a blueprint for what an equitable future could look like. By reclaiming their right to energy sovereignty, the people of Sekhukhune are resisting exploitation and building a path toward true sustainability and self-determination.
By Boitumelo Masipa
¹Understanding South Africa’s Social and Labour Plan
² Social Ownership Models in the Energy Transition