---
title: "SA’s new climate law under scrutiny in hilarious GNU comedy sketch"
description: "Politically Aweh, South Africa’s cheekiest online news show, is back with a fresh offering of political shenanigans made funny. This time comedic duo KG Mogadi and Céline Tshika get into character to bring us the tea in a ‘leaked’ video showing our GNU cabinet discussing the signing and effectiveness of South Africa’s Climate Change Act. Catch our new and old cast of ministers as you’ve never seen – or heard – them before!"
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "POLITICALLY AWEH"
author: "Politically Aweh"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/politically-aweh/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-02-sas-new-climate-law-under-scrutiny-in-hilarious-gnu-comedy-sketch/"
published: "2024-09-02T09:59:28"
updated: "2024-09-02T09:59:30"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 378
---

# SA’s new climate law under scrutiny in hilarious GNU comedy sketch

> Politically Aweh, South Africa’s cheekiest online news show, is back with a fresh offering of political shenanigans made funny. This time comedic duo KG Mogadi and Céline Tshika get into character to bring us the tea in a ‘leaked’ video showing our GNU cabinet discussing the signing and effectiveness of South Africa’s Climate Change Act. Catch our new and old cast of ministers as you’ve never seen – or heard – them before!

By Politically Aweh · Published 2 September 2024, 11:59 SAST · Updated 2 September 2024, 11:59 SAST

## Key points
- President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Climate Change Act in July 2024, but with the government's mixed signals and competing interests, will this legislation be a game-changer or just another piece of hot air in the fight against climate change?
- President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Climate Change Act in July 2024, but questions remain on its real-world impact amid the new Government of National Unity (GNU).
- The Act outlines SA's climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, with a focus on a coordinated approach across government and society.
- Despite positive aspects like a permanent Presidential Climate Commission, concerns arise over conflicting legislation and ministerial ties to fossil fuel industries.
- Municipalities face challenges in dealing with climate impacts without specific budgets, raising questions about environmental and economic costs.

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHXXf2Q4LX8)

So the [Climate Change Act](https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Climate-Change-Act-22-of-2024.pdf)was signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2024 to much fanfare. This is good news, but what does it really mean?

Now that we have a so-called GNU, will that help or hinder its translation into real-world action, or is it all just more hot air?

According to a statement by the DA’s Dion George, SA’s new Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, “The Act sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa’s fair contribution to the global climate change response.”

There are some positives, such as making the Presidential Climate Commission a permanent fixture, and it’s the first legislation of its kind providing for a coordinated and integrated response to climate change across government and society. The Act has been broadly [welcomed by civil society](https://mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2024-07-24-ramaphosa-signs-crucial-climate-change-bill-into-law/), and Business Day editor-in-chief Alexander Parker [argued](https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/columnists/2024-08-12-alexander-parker-the-unlikely-awesome-power-of-das-dion-george/)that it handed a lot of power to the environment minister.

But when certain government ministers seem to be in the pocket of fossil fuel and mining companies and there is also new, competing legislation in the pipeline that seems to contradict climate goals, it’s not surprising that Politically Aweh’s satirical take is sceptical about whether the urgent action needed to curb SA’s biggest polluters will actually happen.

“The new climate law will create carbon budgets to help South Africa reduce our emissions. But don’t worry, I will also soon sign a new Act that helps the petrol industry because balance is important,” the “President” assures his ministers in the “leaked” video.

And who is going to pick up the tab when that balance costs us our environment and economy?

According to the Act, municipalities must come up with plans to deal with the increasingly extreme weather and other climate impacts. With no budget specifically allocated for them to do that, and few functioning optimally, it’s a can of crises and chaos management. As for the environment, well it can’t make party donations or vote so ya know … \[crickets\].

In other news, the President eats a cupcake and the Minister of Sports goes jogging. **DM**

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