Katlego Segopotse Malesa

Youth in Environment and Sustainability

Nominee's Province:
Limpopo

Age:
35

Project Name/Description:
Social and environmental justice activist

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/katlego.malesa

As a child growing up in the rural area of Ga Makgopane that is surrounded by mines, near Sekhukhune, in Limpopo, Katlego Segopotse Malesa, 35, observed a lot of social injustices and non-compliance by the mining sector. The injustices included not only environmental issues or social and labour matters. They had to deal with land and gender issues, or a lack of water in communities or house cracks and relocation challenges. Malesa is deputy chairperson of Sekhukhune Combined Mining Affected Communities as well as deputy secretary of Mining and Environmental Justice Community Network of South Africa (MEJCON- SA). “At MEJCON we run projects, workshops and training with communities to enhance their knowledge. We also assist those in need of legal assistance to address gender-based violence, among others." The organisation also distributes food parcels to vulnerable communities and women-headed homes. She is a social and environmental activist. “I’m also seeking to elevate the voices of women in my community; to give them the courage to speak about gender issues.”