EFF statement on Ramaphosa’s nonsensical commitment at COP27 on decommissioning of coal mines and the so-called Just Transition

8 November 2022

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) distances itself and condemns the nonsensical and suicidal commitments made by Cyril Ramaphosa at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt (COP27), where he has re-committed himself to destroy the coal industry in South Africa.

Following on his surrender to environmental imperialism at the COP26 in Scotland 2021, Ramaphosa re-emphasised the destruction of coal-mining of the communities such as Secunda, Lephalele and Emalahleni, to an agenda of decommissioning coal power stations, under the guise of an unverifiable Just Transition to renewable energy.

The so-called Just Transition, refers to a transition to renewable energy and sustainable means of production, while protecting the social-economic rights and livelihoods of those in the labour sector who will be impacted by the transition which involves job losses. Central to the process is dialogue with those who will be affected, and that has not happened in South Africa as many mining communities have no idea why mines are being decommissioned and what will happen with their livelihoods.

Ramaphosa's imperialist handlers reaffirmed their delight at his reckless commitments, by granting him an additional RI 0 billion which comes on top of the $8.5 billion committed to him in 2021 , to worsen massive unemployment and collapse the mismanaged energy generation capacity South Africa already has. The painful irony is that Ramaphosa is throwing South Africa into massive debt, by pleading for concessional loans in order to create unemployment and collapse our economy.

It is an objective fact that over 80% of South Africa's electricity generation is dependent on coal, while there are numerous avenues of clean coal energy generation methods that South Africa could explore. What makes matters worse is that the Western Nations which are demanding the closure of our coal power stations, have built their very economies on the basis of fossil fuels, particularly coal, and have even begun revitalising their coal sectors in the wake of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Germany is still largely dependent on coal for its energy generation needs, yet has made no commitment to abandon its coal power stations in the interest of the climate.

Much of the globe, particularly China is re-investing in the building of coal power stations at a large scale, because it appreciates that this natural resource can be used responsibly and safely for energy generation.

The decommissioning of coal power stations in South Africa is illogical and premature.

It is illogical because billions have been spent on building the Kusile and Medupi power stations for years, yet now they will not be used, and it is premature because South Africa is not ready in terms of renewable energy alternatives. Renewable energy as the primary source of energy is an experiment and that experiment must begin in the West which has damaged the climate for centuries, not in Africa.

The EFF wants to assure the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America and the rest of the hypocrites of the West, that their puppet Ramaphosa will not have the power to implement their nonsensical resolutions. By the year 2024, Cyril Ramaphosa will no longer be in power to implement the genocidal decision to destroy the South African coal mining sector, and the EFF will ensure that none of the loans provided to destroy our coal sector are repaid.

We will not shut down our coal power stations and any loans will have to be recouped from Ramaphosa in his personal capacity, because he has undertaken the mission of destroying the coal mining sector by using loans, with no mandate from the South African people.

What is evident from both the nonsensical commitments from COP26 and COP27 is that the West, particularly the Group of 7 countries are hellbent on using their resources and money as an instrument of control and neo-colonialism. South Africa must never be subjected to neo-colonialism and micromanagement by the greedy neo-colonial actors because they have demonstrated that in all their dealings with the developing world, the West seek to loot, pillage, dominate, and impoverish these countries.

South Africa should on the contrary adopt a comprehensive energy policy and partnerships which must necessarily consider options of clean coal technologies, partnerships for nuclear and maximal usage of hydrogen, including through usage of power ships. The Wests sponsored plans have never been and will never be a solution to our energy crises.

Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 9 November 2022