YAMUA Will Embark on a Toxic Cycling Protest Targeted to Mining Companies in Johannesburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE| 13 June 2024
The Youth Affected by Mining United in Action (YAMUA), the youth-wing of MACUA, will be organising a half-day Toxic Cycling Protest in Johannesburg on 16 June 2024. This protest is aimed at raising awareness about the injustices faced by communities due to the actions of major mining companies such as Anglo American, De Beers, Seriti, South 32, and Glencore.
The purpose of the Toxic Tour is to highlight how these mining companies pollute the environment and exploit the resources of these communities, leaving them impoverished and unemployed. By holding this tour, we hope to push for greater accountability from mining companies and address the issue of environmental degradation that contributes to global warming.
It is widely known that mining companies often fail to acknowledge the negative consequences and impacts of their operations. This has been the case historically and continues to be so in the present. Unless there is a fundamental shift in the way the mining and extractive sector operates, this pattern of neglecting responsibility will persist into the future. The Toxic Tour serves as a powerful call to action from the youth in communities affected by mining, demanding that these corporations take accountability for their actions.
Mining companies have played a significant direct and indirect role in contributing to climate change, disproportionately affecting marginalised communities, especially the youth. Youth are demanding a Just Transition that focuses on creating sustainable and fair alternatives to the exploitative practices currently employed. While quick green tech solutions may help mitigate the impacts of climate change, they do not address the underlying systemic issues of unequal resource distribution that the mining sector is built upon. YAMUA’s call is simple- Nothing About Us Without Us!
The event is planned as follows:
Arrival and departure (10h00-11h00) at War Memorial Park located at 22 Erlswold Way, Saxonwold
• Stop 1: Anglo America (144 Oxford Road Rosebank)
• Stop 2: De Beer (144 Oxford Road Rosebank)
• Stop 3: Seriti (15 Chaplin, Cnr Oxford and Chaplin Roads, Illovo)
• Stop 4: South 32 (39 Melrose Boulevard, Melrose Arch, Melrose)
• Stop 5: Glencore (39 Melrose Boulevard, Melrose Arch, Melrose)
For media enquiries and more information, contact:
Macua communications and media manager, Magnificent Mndebele—064 785 9746/ Magnificent.Mndebele@macua.org.za