Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

Pontsho Pilane

Non-executive Director

Pontsho is mostly known for her work as a journalist, writer and author. She cut her teeth as a journalist at The Daily Vox and she was one of the leading journalists covering #FeesMustFall in 2015. She has written for the Mail & Guardian, Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism, The Guardian, The Independent, and other publications. Pontsho has worked as a communications consultant for various local, regional and social justice organisations. For the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, she spent 10 minutes every weekday morning explaining the latest Covid-19 developments in Setswana to about 3.5 million listeners on Motsweding FM, a Setswana public service radio station.

Throughout her career, she’s focused on health and gender: From starting a campaign against street harassment at The Daily Vox, called #SexistSA, to #FreeToBleed where together she spearheaded the period poverty campaign to make period products free for all learners who menstruate. After three years of campaigning, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced the removal of the Value-Added Tax on sanitary pads. Pontsho also co-authored Flow: The book about menstruation and contributed to the anthology Black Futures.

“The work of the Centre for Environmental Rights is important in South Africa, now more than ever, as inequalities and injustices worsen. I am proud to support the work of an organisation that is ensuring that future generations have a healthy environment to live and thrive in and that links violations to the environment to the fundamental human rights of many communities that have been ignored and explored in the pursuit of wealth.”