Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

The Centre for Environmental Rights is honoured to congratulate Makoma Lekalakala, the director of Earthlife Africa, and Liziwe McDaid from the South African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute, for being awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for 2018 for their dedicated and fearless work in challenging the controversial South African nuclear deal.

CER attorneys have worked closely with Makoma for many years, particularly on important court cases brought on behalf of Earthlife Africa around energy, environment and climate change. These groundbreaking cases include the 2017 Thabametsi judgment on climate change, and the ongoing case to protect the Mabola Protected Environment in Mpumalanga.

“Makoma has been a tireless campaigner for environmental justice in South Africa,” says Melissa Fourie, CER Executive Director. “Makoma and Liziwe led a powerful and effective court battle against the ill-advised nuclear deal, resulting in a victory that benefited all South Africans. It is fantastic to see their courage recognised at an international level.”

We congratulate Makoma and Liz for this well-deserved award, and look forward to working with both to realise environmental rights and justice for many years to come.