/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Greenpeace Africa calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to act on energy

Responding to the news that Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected and sworn in as South Africa’s new president, Greenpeace Africa’s political advisor, Happy Khambule, has said:

“In the midst of the chaos of Jacob Zuma’s drawn out exit from South Africa’s highest office, Greenpeace Africa welcomes the swearing in of South Africa’s new President, Cyril Ramaphosa. It is clear that South Africa faces many challenges, and there is no doubt that there is a tough job ahead for the new leadership of the country.

We believe one of the most pressing issues is to start to create stability, increase trust in the country’s government, and to choose a new pathway in establishing transparency and accountability in the energy sector.

We trust that President Cyril Ramaphosa will listen to the massive opposition from the South African public and leave the dodgy nuclear deal far behind, while pushing forward with a new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which takes climate change and the country’s over reliance on coal very seriously.

It is time to remove the barriers to renewable energy, which can enable the achievement of universal access to energy and power disadvantaged communities much faster and at a cost South Africans can afford. We call on the President to push ahead with a renewable-powered future that will not leave South Africans in the dark”.

Issued by Greenpeace Africa