Makoma Lekalakala grew up in the Soweto township of Johannesburg, a hub for resistance during South Africa’s Apartheid. She became a young activist at her church, engaged in a range of issues that included women’s rights, social, economic and environmental justice.

Today, Makoma is the Director of Earthlife Africa, a civil society environmental justice and anti-nuclear organisation which “seeks a better life for all people, without exploiting others or degrading their environment.” 

Her commitment to climate justice in South Africa has led civil society to win the first South African climate change court case against the government and the reversal of the nuclear deal by the South African and Russian governments.

For her efforts, she received the Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa 2018 award and SAB Environmentalist of the year 2018 award. Makoma has her roots as a liberation fighter and is a strong campaigner for a just and fair society.