By Noko Mashilo
In the heart of Ntsako Guest house in Marapong, Lephalale’s energy hub, a new conversation is taking root. The Just Energy Transition is not just about shifting from coal to clean energy; it is about reclaiming people’s power, restoring dignity, and building communities that thrive beyond dependence on extractive industries.
At the centre of this movement are women and youth, voices too often overlooked, yet carrying the heaviest burdens and the brightest visions for change.
It is in this spirit that the Waterberg Women Advocacy Organisation (WWAO), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and Climate Justice Coalition (CJC) convened a powerful two-day workshop on Just Energy Transition on the 16 and 17 September with the theme women and youth leading today, shaping tomorrow.
This gathering united NGOs from all five districts of Limpopo to demand a transition that puts people before profit, centres women’s voices, and ensures that communities have both the rights and the resources to shape their own future.
Francina Nkosi, founder of WWAO said their main goal of hosting the two-day workshop on Just Energy Transition was to bring together community based organizations (CBOs) from all five districts of Limpopo to engage in dialogue about just energy transition.
“We also wanted to create a space for women and youth to deepen their understanding of what just energy transition means, and why people’s power matters. As communities, we hold power, even if we do not always recognize it.
We want to win hearts and minds by helping people understand their rights and their worth. It was equally important to introduce agroecology as a sustainable alternative for food production. Communities need to know that we can reduce, reuse, and recycle what we already have, and that food security can start right in our own backyards.
To eat does not always mean you must buy, sometimes it simply means planting and harvesting from your garden. Even when water is limited, there are creative ways to grow and sustain ourselves,” she explained.
She further said that Lephalale is the energy hub, home to both Medupi and Matimba power stations, and this makes the just energy transition very personal for women in our region. “Women are uniquely affected because they carry the daily burden of energy poverty, whether it is struggling with high electricity costs, relying on unsafe alternatives, or not having equal access to the benefits of energy,” she emphasised.
Nkosi also said through their organisation, they amplify women’s voices by demanding access to clean, affordable, and renewable energy. “We want a just energy transition that does not leave anyone behind, but instead ensures that women and communities can benefit equally from sustainable alternatives,” said Nkosi.
When asked about key outcomes came out of the workshop, Nkosi said it was recognised that agroecology must be embraced as a vital tool for food security and sustainability. “We also encourage government and all stakeholders to support this approach and to remember that our lives matter. Communities must be empowered to share knowledge, preserve food, and practice love and care in how we live together,” she explained.
She also highlighted the need for practical solutions like collecting rainwater through jojo tanks, supporting access to seedlings for backyard gardens, and ensuring that every household has solar energy. “This way, during load shedding, families can still harvest clean energy, switch on their lights, and stay connected with their loved ones instead of being left in the dark,” she said.
Nkosi said most importantly, they are pushing for environmental justice and inclusive decision-making, where workers, communities, and small-scale businesses all benefit fairly. “Our call is for a just energy transition that delivers good livelihoods, true empowerment, and social justice for all,” said Nkosi.
According to Zimbali Mncube, FES head of Economic Justice, FES is guided by the values of social democracy, which are rooted in people’s participation on issues that directly affect them, including the Just Energy Transition. “WWAO has a strong track record of championing community issues, working with key stakeholders and CBOs well beyond Lephalale.
This is why we partnered with WWAO to strengthen capacity building, knowledge sharing, and skills transfer, with a particular focus on women and youth, two of the most marginalized groups in society,” said Mncube.
Mncube added that there can be no just energy transition without the inclusion and participation of women. “Women are disproportionately impacted by unpaid care work, unemployment, and limited access to land.
Any meaningful transition must place their voices and proposals at the centre, ensuring democratic participation and real ownership by women and community-based organisations. Only then can we build pathways to decent livelihoods and sustainable jobs,” explained Mncube.
“She also said during the workshop, they heard exciting ideas from the community, ranging from agroecology as a sustainable alternative for food production, to building exchanges with other communities, and strengthening collaborations with trade unions. These are the kinds of grassroots solutions we want to support, and we look forward to deepening partnerships to turn them into reality,” she emphasised.
Kgaugelo Poto (35) from Women Together in Development in Ntwane, Dennilton, Limpopo, said her key takeaway was hope for a better tomorrow.
“I learnt more about solar energy, which is a good alternative to the expensive electricity we rely on. I also gained knowledge about agroecology, especially the use of fertilizers,” said Poto, whose personal motto is dreaming of tomorrow, today.
