#035 Women on the Frontlines of South Africa’s Broken Water & Energy System

South Africa’s water and energy crises are national emergencies — but for women in rural and township communities, these crises are daily struggles.

In this special Women’s Month episode, we bring you the voices of women on the frontlines: those walking long distances to fetch water, cooking in the dark during load-shedding, keeping their families safe without public lighting, and managing households with scarce resources. Beyond survival, many of these women are also community organisers and activists: fighting for better service delivery, advocating for local solutions, and building solidarity networks in the face of state neglect.

This episode features a recording of the Climate Justice Coalition’s webinar “Women on the Frontlines: Lived Realities of the Water and Energy Crises in Rural and Township South Africa.”

This conversation is hosted by Francina Nkosi from the Waterberg Women’s Association, a community leader and organiser who has long been at the forefront of struggles for water and energy justice. She is joined by three of the Coalition's activists: Simpiwe Zwane from the Tembelihle Crisis Committee, Nomfundo Mkaba from Omama Bemvelo, and Lisa Makaula from the Green Connection. Together, they share their lived realities from rural and township South Africa, reflecting on the daily impacts of the water and energy crises while highlighting women’s resilience, organising, and leadership in the fight for justice. Website · Facebook · Instagram