South Africa's 2024 election and its impact on the country's energy transformation strategy

In the heart of Africa, South Africa, the continent's biggest economy with an estimated GDP of nearly $400 billion, is gearing up for its 2024 election. With 27 million registered voters, the polls will decide the fate of the country's energy sector and its fight against climate change.

The African National Congress (ANC), led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is one of the main contenders. The ANC's manifesto promises to build industries, create jobs, and address climate change through a just transition. However, critics argue that the ANC government has been slow in implementing this transition, with the mining industry, a major contributor to South Africa's economy, still heavily relying on coal. This reliance has led to South Africa emitting 436 million tonnes of CO2 in 2021, making it the 14th-largest emitter of CO2 worldwide.

President Ramaphosa, however, has expressed a desire to further use science and innovation for development, including green technologies, climate change adaptation, and decarbonisation programmes. Under the Paris Climate Accords in 2016, South Africa pledged to reduce emissions to between 350 and 420 million tonnes by 2030.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), on the other hand, is advocating for a shift away from Eskom, the state-owned power utility, and towards renewable energy sources. The DA's manifesto condemns the ANC for failing to ensure a reliable power supply and proposes unbundling and restructuring Eskom to establish an open electricity market. The party also plans to reduce high tariffs on imports of renewable energy technologies and commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions.

The Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EEF) party, another contender, has pledged to stop load shedding, decarbonize the electricity sector, and establish a state-owned mining company to manage coal mines owned by Eskom. The EEF also plans to invest in repairing the existing fleet of power generation and adopt clean coal technologies, prioritizing coal exports to African countries to support their electrification and industrialization.

Malik Dasoo, an organizer with Extinction Rebellion Gauteng, notes that the ANC-led government talks about just energy transition but fails to implement it. Dr Alex Leferna, General Secretary of Climate Justice Coalition, echoes this sentiment, stating that years of failed ANC government policies have kept South Africa in an electricity crisis. Leferna suggests that a coal phase out is feasible for South Africa, and that renewable energy would benefit the country, even without considering climate change.

Recently, the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan for South Africa was proposed, which includes investments in new energy vehicles, primarily battery electric vehicles. The plan, part of mobilizing large-scale investments to meet climate goals, has significant contributions from both public and private sectors. However, the specific individuals or organizations who first proposed these investments are not explicitly named in the available search results.

As the election approaches, the urgency of the climate crisis in South Africa remains a pressing concern. Malik Dasoo concludes that none of the political parties recognize the urgency of the climate crisis, with little attention given to climate change in their manifestos, and a lack of understanding of the urgency and proposed solutions to address climate change. The 2024 South African election will be a crucial testament to the country's commitment to a sustainable future.

South Africa's 2024 election and its impact on the country's energy transformation strategy