From September 13 to 14, 2023, government officials and corporate representatives convened at the Southern Africa Oil and Gas Conference in Cape Town, with the aim of expanding oil and gas exploration in sensitive ecological areas.

In response, a coalition of organizations and movements, including The Climate Justice Charter Movement, Feed the Future for Life, Extinction Rebellion, Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI), African Climate Alliance, Save our Sacred Lands, The Green Connection, and Project 90 by2030, led a unified protest outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Wednesday, September 13.

Their protest action, titled "Call for Climate Justice Resistance Against Oil and Gas Corporations" highlighted concerns about the conference's focus on fossil fuels in the face of the climate crisis. The organizations called for a shift towards sustainable projects that benefit South Africans and oppose projects in oil and gas that prioritize corporate interests.

The coalition expressed alarm at the government's acceleration of the Oil and Gas Amendment Bill and the Petroleum Development Bill, which facilitate oil and gas exploration. Despite recent climate shocks, including droughts, floods, heatwaves, and the urgency of the climate crisis, the government has not taken sufficient action.

Lydia Petersen from SAFCEI emphasized the importance of promoting renewable energy and protesting against oil and gas in the energy mix.

The organizations stressed the need for ambitious just transition plans, no new investments in fossil fuels, withdrawal of subsidies from fossil fuel industries, and the establishment of an "End Fossil Fuel Treaty". They demanded a commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C and called for urgent climate action.

In conclusion, the coalition urged the government to recognize the climate emergency and hold corporate executives accountable for eco-cide, emphasizing the need to prioritize people and the planet over profits.