Coal-mining communities left in the dust for a greener future: People at the front line of South Africa’s energy transition are in the dark about how it will unfold, and whether it will sustain them
shows that at least 227 government-licensed coal mines surround eMalahleni.
Artisanal miners are worried that, just as they are starting to operate legally with permits in hand and the new policy in place, the government is now planning to shut down everything coal-related. “There is no doubt that this transition is causing havoc in South Africa. At the moment, power stations are being bombed because of this transition that is not being explained properly to the people of the country,” Masina says.
“They’re sitting idle, some have been left for 20 years and more. Some are not safe; they’re claiming lives because they are collapsing, because of flooding, and because there are gases. We are waiting for those to be rehabilitated.” Supporting what Hlatshwayo is saying about the township economy, the JET plan states that 85% of South Africa’s coal-mining jobs can be found in Mpumalanga. The provincial economy is heavily dependent on coal for employment, the municipal rates base and community development activities.
Eskom says the implementation of the JET is envisaged to create some 300 000 jobs in the renewables value chain. “This represents a net jobs gain,” said an Eskom spokesperson in response to Oxpeckers’ questions. Sifiso Hlatshwayo was an employee at Camden from 2019 until he was retrenched in December 2021. Photo: Thabo MolelekwaFor people such as Sifiso Hlatshwayo from Wesselton, these figures are meaningless. The 30-year-old former Eskom machine operator was an employee at Camden from 2019 until he was retrenched in December 2021.
“Those whose skills are required at other coal-fired power stations get transferred to those stations to meet the staffing requirements there. As part of the shutdown plan, extensive socio-economic studies were conducted which included widespread consultation with all communities around the affected power stations.”
Michelle Cruywagen, the just transition and coal campaign manager at environmental justice NGO Groundwork, says unions set out processes for a just transition in 2018, “but the business and mining sectors didn’t really come on board in assisting with facilitating the transition, even though they are obliged to do so legally through the social and labour plans”.
In the dark: Ward councillor Thulani Madlala with Philani Mngomezulu and another member of the Khuthala environmental group. Photo: Thabo MolelekwaThulani Madlala is a ward councillor in the Msukaligwa municipality. He says he is waiting to see how the transition will assist the local poverty-stricken people.
“We hear that reskilling is already taking place, but where? It is important that the government educate the public about the transition so that they understand how it is going to happen and how it will affect them,” he says.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Contract Law and the ConstitutionHow the Constitution of South Africa impacts contracts between private people/companies in South Africa.
Read more »
South Africa: Power Cuts in South Africa Are Playing Havoc With the Country's Water SystemAnalysis - South Africans had to deal with the worst ever series of power cuts in 2022. All in all the country lost a record 205 days of electricity due to constant breakdowns at the coal-fired power plants run by Eskom, the state-owned electricity utility. The plants are old and have not been sufficiently maintained.
Read more »
South Africa: Non-Racial South Africa - Book Shows Debate On Nation Building Is Still Relevant TodayAnalysis - There has been much comment recently on the lack of representation of minorities in the leadership structures of South Africa's governing party, the African National Congress (ANC).
Read more »
Sasol seals deal for wind power as coal mining outlook dims | BusinessChemicals and energy group Sasol has signed three power purchase agreements for almost 300MW of wind energy which will help kick off its decarbonisation plans for its Southern African value chain. | News24_Business
Read more »
Eskom paid Exxaro R9.7 billion in penalties on Medupi coal contract | BusinessEskom, which is struggling to find cash to keep its generators running, paid billions of rand in penalties on a coal contract at one of its newest plants. | News24_Business
Read more »
OPINIONISTA: Does South Africa deserve climate reparations?South Africa is clearly trying to have its cake and eat it too. Demanding climate finance from the international community, while wanting to continue destroying the climate through new fossil fuels. It’s for this reason that South Africa’s Climate Justice Charter Movement is petitioning the international community to make an end to new coal, oil and gas investments a condition of financial support for South Africa.
Read more »