Parliament's presiding officers and its environment committee paid tribute on Sunday 1 November to Dr Desmond D'Sa, the South Durban environmental activist who led the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA).
In a joint statement, Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane called D'Sa a "renowned environmental activist and social justice champion". They extended condolences to his family.
A lifetime of environmental activism
According to the presiding officers, D'Sa challenged powerful industries through his leadership of the SDCEA and won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2014.
The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment described him as the founder of the SDCEA and "a fearless champion of community rights, environmental protection and social justice". Committee chairperson Nqabisa Gantsho said: "South Africa has lost a tireless advocate who consistently held institutions accountable."
What we do not yet know
- Neither statement gives the date or place of his death, or a cause. We are not speculating about one.
- No funeral or memorial arrangements have been announced in the statements we reviewed.
We will update this article when more information is confirmed.
