WATCH: Protest action on uMhlanga Boulevard

PROTESTERS marched along Umhlanga Ridge Boulevard and Park Lane to deliver a memorandum  to Allan Gray on Friday, 24 March at 2 pm. The memorandum identified Allan Gray as a shareholder in an energy company, adding that oil and gas drilling off Durban’s coast posed was reckless.

Siyabonga Nontlanga read the memorandum to Sharon Haikier, Regional KZN Manager of Allan Grey.

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“The issue of climate change and biodiversity loss has become an urgent crisis. We are marching along with thousands of other young people across the globe today, united by the same fundamental concern for our future,”said Nontlanga.

Haiker said Allan Gray supports the transition to a more environmentally sustainable society.

“We appreciate the concerns presented by the South African Youth Climate Change Coalition. We value diversity of opinion and will review the petition. We take our role as a responsible investment manager seriously. We consider environmental, social, governance and sustainability issues throughout all phases of our investment process and we are a signatory of the United Nations endorsed Principles for Responsible Investing,”she added.

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Protesters said they planned to march to two more shareholders to deliver the memorandum on the day. Various organisations backed the memorandum, including Oceans Not Oil, South African Youth Climate Change Coalition, South Durban Community Environment Alliance, FrackFreeSA, Youth4MPAs, Extinction Rebellion South Africa and Greenpeace local group.

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