Written by Courtney Drysdale

This month, we are introducing a podcast episode that covers something very close to our hearts. So, sit back, get comfy and let’s go on an adventure to the mystical and wonderful Pondoland, located along the Wild Coast in South Africa, and learn about those fighting to protect it.

March’s binge: Ep 372 of Green Dreamer: Sinegugu Zukulu: Resisting imposed development in the Wild Coast

“The problem is that so-called development, which has been envisioned outside of the community, more often than not brings challenges to the community, because it doesn't take into consideration the aspirations, the culture, and the way of life of the people. It disregards the right of the people to self-determination. More than anything, it destroys the ecosystem of goods and services that people are reliant on.”

Brief summary 

On Dream Greener, a community-based podcast focused on sustainability and climate heroes, Kamea Chayne hosts Sinegugu Zukulu, a passionate advocate for rural development, ecotourism, agriculture, and youth empowerment. Sinegugu uses his platform to discuss the threats to land security and the significance of indigenous cultures in protecting South Africa’s Pondoland on the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape. Zukulu has made it his life’s mission to ensure that people living on communal land are given the support they need to secure land tenure without feeling pressured to accept imposed development. He describes how local communities have won previous court cases to prevent mining on their land, but recently Shell is attempting to search for oil and gas on the shores of the Wild Coast. The proposed development and exploration of the Wild Coast has steadily come to a head in the past 2 years, and this episode does a great job of bringing the listener up to speed and explaining the situation in a comprehensive and engaging way.

Available on: Spotify, the Green Dreamer website and Apple Podcasts.

The sustainability factor

Overall: 5/5

Shell’s justification for their exploration for oil and gas is listed as necessary for economic development in South Africa and to assist with failing energy security (heard of load-shedding?). However, Shell and the South African government have made no effort to contact indigenous people who live on the Wild Coast while consent from these communities is required. Zukulu also points out that societies cannot continue to grow the economy indefinitely, due to already dwindling resources and climate change, rather there is a need to find sustainable alternatives. He shares how other researchers and environmental experts have worked alongside these communities in order to solve challenges in a more sustainable and mutually beneficial way, as well as create an invaluable partnership. 

Zukulu describes how the land is an irreplaceable asset to indigenous culture and way of life. However, companies like Shell fail to recognise this, instead seeking to exploit the land for monetary gain, and in doing so, disregarding the cultural, spiritual and practical importance of the land to indigenous peoples. Community members and other concerned citizens are bravely resisting the commodification of the land, and ensuring that it is protected for future generations. Zukulu’s community believes their ancestors live in the ocean, therefore it is utterly precious and when you drill for oil, this is destroyed. The development of the west, which is about profit for the most part, is in objection to the community beliefs. As Zukulu puts it, ‘The land owns us’, not the other way around.

The Viatu review  

Thanks to seamless production and Kamea Chayne’s respectful and engaged hosting, Sinegugu Zukulu is able to share a deeply meaningful story that effectively lays the foundation for why protecting the Wild Coast and other places like it is truly essential. From laying out the history of his people, to clearly addressing the relationship between previous colonial efforts and current-day capitalist endeavours Zukulu then lays out clear and actionable approaches that offer divergent imagings for a sustainable future, one in which cultures are respected and the land is treated with respect worthy of a life-giving, interconnected and healing space.

Themes

The proposed development and Shell's attempt to mine the ocean for oil and gas is an important conversation to have across the globe. Not only does this development have significant implications for our environment, but it also has a huge impact on the sustainability of the people of Pondoland and other indigenous cultures in similar situations. Green Dreamer lays out the implications of this proposed development, its detrimental impact on sustainability efforts and the landscape, and the importance of respecting indigenous culture. The podcast explores the ecological, economic, and cultural consequences of this proposed development, and how it could impact the lives of those living along the Wild Coast.

Production 

Kamea Chayne, the host of the podcast Green Dreamer, is a Hakka-Taiwanese American Writer and Creative who is leading the way in finding solutions to the climate crisis. She uses this platform to speak with people who are making actionable changes and exploring sustainable approaches to the climate emergency. Green Dreamer is very well produced; the host has a great way of facilitating her guests and questioning them thoughtfully and with great gusto, resulting in a very listenable and interesting rendition of the different topics she covers. From the get-go, you can’t help but be drawn into Sinegugu Zukulu’s immersive storytelling, as he weaves together his cultural history and passionately endeavours to speak out against Shell’s proposed exploration and oil and gas drilling on his home, the Wild Coast.

What makes it different 

Despite the seriousness of the topic, the general tone of this episode is saturated with hopefulness and energy to continue to oppose those who seek to destroy and damage wild spaces. Through working with environmental experts and researchers, as well as building a sustainable tourism model that can be used as an alternative along the Wild Coast, Zukulu is one of many who is making a major difference and creating a space for visitors to learn about his incredible home, the challenges it faces, and how others can make a difference by supporting them.

At Viatu, we strongly believe in taking transparent and actionable steps to create a more sustainable future for our planet and all living things on it. With that, we also believe that highlighting others who do so is essential to creating a more holistic and interconnected path towards achieving this. To end off with Zukulu’s words, ‘In our culture, we say that you are who you are because of the other people and the other beings that surround you. In other words, you cannot be able to achieve much if you are alone. That's why they say in the African proverb, if you want to go quickly, you must go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. ‘

Want to know more about how to travel with purpose? Go to Viatu to learn more or get inspired for your next sustainable adventure on Instagram.