Civil society organisations working in the areas of energy, climate, and sustainable development have called on the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to initiate an open call for nominations to appoint a much-needed community representative to the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board.

“The position has been vacant for over three years,” says youth activist Gabriel Klaasen. “In that time, critical decisions about Koeberg and new nuclear generation have been made without any representation from affected communities on the NNR board. This contradicts the Minister’s stated commitment to meaningful and fully informed public participation in the energy sector.”

Appeal to the Minister

Project 90 by 2030, Koeberg Alert Alliance (KAA), Green Connection, Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), and EarthLife Africa sent a formal letter to the Minister on 21 January 2025, highlighting this critical gap in the NNR’s leadership despite this community representative position being mandated by law.

This omission followed the dismissal of the previous representative, Peter Becker, in 2022 – a decision that was subsequently ruled “unlawful, unconstitutional, and done in bad faith” by the Western Cape High Court. This decision was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal in a ruling issued in June 2023.

“Becker was dismissed due to allegations of misconduct, and since the court found that there was no misconduct ruling, it seems to indicate these allegations were fabricated by elements within the NNR,” says KAA spokesperson, Lydia Petersen. “This leads to concerns amongst communities that the NNR does not want a community representative on the board.”

Communities deserve a voice at the table

“The absence of a community representative since 1 January 2022 until present day undermines the principles of accountability and inclusivity in shaping South Africa’s nuclear energy future,” adds Petersen. “Appointing a community representative is not only a legal obligation but also a crucial step in ensuring diverse voices are considered in nuclear energy decision-making processes.”

“SAFCEI welcomes the opportunity to again, nominate someone who can represent the voices and views of communities,” says Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute’s (SAFCEI) Executive Director, Francesca de Gasparis. “We have been calling for community representation on the NNR board and this will be significant in building nuclear governance premised on co-cooperativeness, accountability and transparency. We are calling for inclusive nuclear energy governance that #LeavesNoOneBehind.”

Request for action

The civil society organisations have requested that the Minister issue an open call as soon as possible for nominations to fill the vacant community representative position. This call would allow ordinary South Africans to contribute to the selection process, fostering transparency and trust in the governance of nuclear energy in the country.

“It is imperative to have a civil society representative on the NNR board to uphold the principles of inclusivity and accountability in decision-making processes,” says Project 90 by 2030 Director, Lorna Fuller.

The organisations remain hopeful for a positive response from Minister Ramokgopa and are committed to ensuring that all South Africans’ voices are heard in matters that impact their communities and the country’s energy future.