In this episode, host Elize Hattingh speaks to Mzwandile Raymond Mene, a local government official from Kimberley, about the vital role municipalities play in climate action, decarbonisation, and building a just and inclusive economy.

Recorded during the JUST SA capacity-building workshop in Kimberley, the conversation explores how local government can turn policy into practice, why youth inclusion and fair access to opportunities are essential, and how collaborative governance (not siloed planning) can strengthen climate adaptation, service delivery, and economic diversification.

About JUST SA
JUST SA is a five-year programme supporting South Africa’s transition toward an environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient, low-carbon and socially just economy. At national level, the programme advances the implementation of the Just Transition Framework and facilitates meaningful dialogue. At provincial and local levels—particularly in Mpumalanga—JUST SA supports stakeholders to design inclusive development pathways and diversify local economies. The programme also advances research, policy, and community engagement on the rehabilitation of coal mining land and water.

JUST SA is implemented by GIZ in partnership with TIPS, NBI, and WWF South Africa, on behalf of the German Government through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), in close collaboration with Indalo Inclusive, the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency, the JET PMU, the Presidential Climate Commission, and other partners.