For decades, the South Durban skyline has been crowned with smokestacks instead of palm trees, its pungent, petrol-like scent was ‘part of life’, and our mornings greeted by refinery sirens rather than the sound of waves.
Things are changing though, slowly but steadily. And it’s up to us to decide what the future of Merebank, Wentworth and Lamontville will look like.
The refineries that once dominated our landscape are beginning to shut down. The world is moving away from fossil fuels, and South Durban, the community that carried the burden of pollution coming from South Africa’s industrial heart for over half a century, now has a chance to write a new story.
It is in our hands to help create a community that is built on clean energy, green jobs, and healthier neighbourhoods. We can ensure no one gets left behind as we move toward a sustainable future. This is not just about shutting down old plants; it’s about opening new solar plants, establishing recycling co-ops and community gardens, and supporting youth-led green innovation right here in our backyards.
This is what the Just Transition is all about. South Durban has always been a community of fighters. When flares lit up the sky, our parents marched. When the dirty air burned our lungs, her people raised their voices.
Now, that same spirit is being called upon again: not to resist, but to rebuild. The Just Transition is not some government slogan or corporate PR line. It’s a people’s movement. It’s us saying: “We deserve clean air, dignified work, and a future worth breathing for.”
And who better to lead that change than the people who’ve lived and suffered the brunt of petro-chemical pollution the longest?
In 2026, groundWork and our local partners will host the people’s Just Transition town hall meetings right here in South Durban, where you are. This will be our moment to shape the future together community by community, worker by worker, and family by family.
Whether you’re a resident, a student, a retiree, a former refinery worker, a small business owner, or simply somebody who cares about the area, your voice matters. This isn’t just a transition of energy, it’s a transition of hearts, hopes, and homegrown solutions.
Imagine looking out over Wentworth and seeing solar rooftops glinting in the sun, instead of smoke rising into the clouds. Imagine young people repairing solar panels, instead of queuing for jobs that don’t exist.
Imagine parks where oil tanks once stood. Clean water flowing through restored wetlands. That’s the dream, and it’s closer than you think.
Join the Movement. Let’s turn the 'Durban of smoke' into the ‘Durban of sunshine’. Let’s replace pollution with possibility. Let’s make 2026 the year we say: “We did this together.” Because the Just Transition isn’t just about changing our economy, it’s about reclaiming our right to breathe, to live, and to thrive. So dust off those old banners, grab your neighbour, and join the journey. South Durban’s next chapter begins now and it needs you in it. SIPHESIHLE MVUNDLA | groundWork Climate & Energy Justice Campaigner, Bluff