In support of groundWork's recent request "for a speedy and urgent investigation to arrest and put on trial those responsible for the murder of Mama Fikile Ntshangase", we are sending a follow-up letter to President Ramaphosa and Minister of Police Bheki Cele in support of groundWork and the Somkhele community.

We've been campaigning for UCT to stop investing in climate-breaking fossil fuels for seven years, while hundreds of global institutions have joined the movement. Over the past few months, many people and institutions have written to the new UCT Council in support of divestment.

Fossil Free South Africa and 350 Africa congratulate the City of eThekwini/Durban on becoming the second South African city to commit to phasing out investments in climate-breaking fossil fuels.

We have a significant opportunity for YOU to help progress our campaign asking UCT to start divesting its endowment fund from fossil fuels THIS YEAR, to start to foster a genuinely socially responsible investment industry in South Africa. 

We have always been clear that at the heart of our campaign to halt all investments in climate-breaking fossil fuels, is the pursuit to advance and protect human rights, not just financial capital. 

We're working to create investment funds that invest in a safer climate and secure future for our children.

This year we are launching an additional newsletter, Planet A Investment, for financial professionals.

Last week, we had a conversation amongst ourselves which went something like this:

Last Thursday, UCT's Convocation, the body comprising all alumni and academic staff, passed a vote overwhelmingly in favour (40 votes in favour and 8  against) of our motion calling for divestment from fossil fuels, and amendment calling for UCT to lead a coalition for divestment in South Africa.

May 2019: Protest for divestment on campus

UCT's Convocation, the body comprising all alumni and academic staff, meets on Thursday 12 December 2019 at Kramer Building Lecture Theatre 1, Middle Campus at 17h00 for 17h30. For the second time, we will be proposing a motion on divestment. 

How would you advise people to handle disinvestment with their financial advisors in terms of the funds they are invested in? Would it be a simple "switch all funds out of fossil fuels"...something like that?

The following was sent out to our mailing list in response to the recent gazetting of the integrated resource plan in South Africa. For news straight to your inbox, sign up to our mailing list here

Earlier this month in Cape Town, Financing the Future brought together over 300 leaders from 44 countries focusing on the intersection of climate justice, finance, energy access and social justice.

There were a number of events that took place throughout the country inline with the global climate strike / week for climate which saw more than 7million people world wide come out in support of climate justice.

Huge momentum on divesting from fossil fuels as unprecedented faith based commitments join a strong statement against shareholder engagement strategies 

On 20 September, the youth of Cape Town will take to the streets for the third time this year to protest the SA Government’s lack of action on the climate emergency: South Africa is warming at a rate nearly double the global average.

Dealing comprehensively with the climate crisis arguably demands cultural, political and social changes that run far deeper than just dropping coal power in favour of wind and solar.

As our new Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources fights to keep our economy in the dark ages, aided and abetted by a media sector credulous enough to repeat 'clean coal' rhetoric…

We held our first-ever 'Climate-Proofing Retirement Funds' events in Cape Town and Johannesburg this week, focused on asset owners, particularly retirement fund boards.