GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Reverend Petrus Gysman of the Uniting Reformed Church in Kroonvale in Graaff-Reinet, recently obtained a Masters degree from the University of Stellenbosch's faculty of religion and practical theology.
The thesis of his Masters of Theology and Ministry Practice in the field of Practical Theology investigated the role of the faith community in opposing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Karoo and included a case study on environmental activism in the region.
Fracking is the highly controversial practice of extracting natural gas and oil from deep shale rock formations. It involves the injection of a mixture of chemicals at high pressure into the rock to open fissures and allow trapped gas or crude oil to flow to the surface.
Fracking in the Karoo has been the subject of heated debate ever since the news that Shell applied for an exploration license to drill for shale gas in the region broke in 2010.
Those opposed to fracking believed that water intensive extractive activities such as fracking can never be justified in a region without adequate water to sustain the livelihoods of its communities.
They considered the risk of fracking fluids leaking into the underground water table whilst most Karoo communities are totally reliant on underground water as an imminent threat to life in the Karoo.
They also perceived the promises of employment opportunities as empty rhetoric since, according to them, none of the potential financial benefits will ever reach the intended beneficiaries.
According to Gysman this particular sentiment largely contributed to the motivation for his case study.
Gysman's case study examined how the issue of fracking united people in one of South Africa's poorest regions to collectively resist fracking and reject the lure of quick money at the expense of the people's lives and livelihoods.
To provide adequate context, it included unpublished literature by a local activist organisation, the Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC), who documented the timeline of environmental justice advocacy and the anti-fracking campaign in the Karoo.
Even though this was not written from a theological perspective, it confirmed the involvement of the local faith community of uMasizakhe and Kroonvale in the anti-fracking campaign. However, the involvement of the faith community has largely gone undocumented and is limited to social media posts and media articles in the local newspaper.
"The case study specifically commended the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser for frequently publishing updates on developments related to fracking, documenting the voices of the people of the Karoo and highlighting the involvement of those beyond the Karoo who contributed to the resistance. These articles have been a critical resource in developing a proper timeline," says Gysman.
According to Gysman, the case study testifies to how faith communities can respond to all injustices as a collective. "The collaborative initiatives among people from diverse religious backgrounds is notable as a deeper understanding among individuals would not have been possible if they remained in their isolated places of worship," says Gysman.
"Everyone holds their own preconceived ideas but, since prophetic action is inherently inclusive, it is vital to embrace those in favour of and against fracking alike. Ultimately, in a country faced with so many issues, the desire for a better life for all should prevail."
Gysman's says his thesis represents an initial reflection on the value of the local faith community and he is hopeful that it will continue in future, empowering local faith communities to engage in public issues and promote justice for all.
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