About us
The Eastern Cape Environmental Network (ECEN) is a membership-based organisation that was officially established in 2008.
It was set up in response to the call by various Eastern Cape NGOs, CBOS, Faith groups, Youth Formations that identified the need for an umbrella organisation to coordinate environmental organisations for environmental justice, social justice and sustainable development through networking.
The idea for an environmental network of this kind was conceived in 2002, when South Africa hosted the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg. It was at this summit where Eastern Cape organisations argued for the establishment of a network.
Since it was formally constituted in 2008, the Eastern Cape Environmental Network has been a social mobilisation and advocacy alliance of CSOs, which coordinates the common interest of South African NGOs and CBOs on issues relating to environmental, social justice and sustainable development.
Section 24 of the SA Constitution
EASTERN CAPE ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK is guided by the Section 24 of the SA Constitution which provides that everyone has the right:
- I(a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
- I(b) (a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
(i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
(ii) promote conservation; and
(iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources
while promoting justifiable economic and social development
Our Mission
ECEN seeks to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people in South Africa, and increasingly in Southern Africa, through assisting civil society to have a greater impact on environmental governance.
ECEN places particular emphasis on assisting vulnerable and previously disadvantaged people who are most affected by environmental injustices.
Our Mission
ECEN seeks to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people in South Africa, and increasingly in Southern Africa, through assisting civil society to have a greater impact on environmental governance.
ECEN places particular emphasis on assisting vulnerable and previously disadvantaged people who are most affected by environmental injustices.
Our Mission
ECEN seeks to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people in South Africa, and increasingly in Southern Africa, through assisting civil society to have a greater impact on environmental governance.
ECEN places particular emphasis on assisting vulnerable and previously disadvantaged people who are most affected by environmental injustices.
Our Mission
ECEN seeks to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people in South Africa, and increasingly in Southern Africa, through assisting civil society to have a greater impact on environmental governance.
ECEN places particular emphasis on assisting vulnerable and previously disadvantaged people who are most affected by environmental injustices.
Our team
EASTERN CAPE ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK is guided by the Section 24 of the SA Constitution which provides that everyone has the right:
Sibusiso Owen Ndidi
Provincial coordinator
Sibusiso Owen Ndidi is a renowned environmental activist, community liaison, training and cooperative development consultant with experience in stakeholder engagement with respect to social environmental and social issues regarding development. Former Eastern Cape activist of the Environmental Justice Network Forum (EJNF) and has been the Eastern Cape coordinator of the Institute of Zero Waste in Africa. .
He was instrumental in organising the civil society activities during the World Summit on Sustainable Development, (WSSD) or ONG Earth Summit 2002 that was held in Johannesburg from the 26th August to 4th September 2002. Part of his work in this initiative included mobilisation, coordinating, organising, facilitating the civil society activities and ensuring that all activities were done successfully. Owen has also been working with members of civil society in coordinating the alternative space during the Civil Society for Climate Justice 17 (C17) that was held parallel to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 17 / 7th Session of the Conference of the Parties (CMP7) in Durban in 2011 work in this process involved mobilising communities in the provinces, dissemination of information on COP processes and creating a space for South African and overseas civil society organisations to deliberate on issues of climate justice.
Owen acted as the Eastern Cape facilitator of a 3 year DEAT sponsored IZWA 2010 Zero waste champions training programme. Owen has worked closely with Groundwork SA to mobilise waste pickers into the formation of a national representative structure in relation to requirements under the Waste Management Act and Strategy. Owen also has completed two year and eighteen month community outreach and programme to highlight issues of food security to urban and rural communities throughout the Eastern Cape through the facilitation of workshops and training sessions on behalf of SAFeAGE. Owen has worked with the Buffalo City in his capacity as a member of Indaloyethu Environmental Cooperative whose focus is on waste recycling & composting.
Owen was also involved in the solid waste assessment as part of the DBSA sponsored Hoodpoint Biogas intervention study. He was an operations manager for a 22 million waste separation at source project, funded by the department of environmental affairs, the project was implemented in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. He was also appointed by the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality to be it’s project Manager for a 4 year waste separation at source project which was completed in 2016. He worked with many different NGO in different capacities among many Earthlife African JHB, Growing Power, Peoples Power Africa, Campaign For Just Energy Future he is also serving in different leadership positions within the civil society sector. I am currently a Chair of the Civil BRICS Forum (2018) South Africa where I am a Coordinator of the Mining, Climate Justice, Land and Agriculture Working Group from 2017 to date. He is a founding member of the network.
Mpumelelo Mhlalisi
Branch organizer
Environmental and social activist, with extensive experience focusing on energy, waste management and water . Volunteer at ECEN and Earth life Africa .
Bulelwa Mkuli
Acting Coordinator
Regional Office (Gqeberha)
Environmental Activist and Environmental Training Development Practitioner, directly involved in awareness Campaigns and educating the Civil society.
+27 63 119 9060
Wongeka Xatasi
Coordinator
Buffalo City Region
Currently leads Ubuntu Foundation, a grassroots organization that works mostly with adolescents and young people to address issues around health and reproductive rights teen pregnancy, diversity, GBV, mental health, climate change, Tb, sti HIV and AIDS, is also provincial chairperson of the Eastern Cape AIDS Council women’s Sector, currently participating in Legacy program hosted by Green Connection.
+27 646078674
Kholiswa Mgxaji
Coordinator
OR Tambo Region
An Environmental activist, who also works closely with youth on capacity development as to ensure that they abstain from substance abuse, conduct clean up campaigns around the community and water harvesting .Advisor secretary to the traditional leaders headquarters.
+27 640569086