The recent announcement of a shortlist of four candidates for the “community representative” position on the board of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has prompted renewed concern about the absence of meaningful public representation in one of the country’s most critical regulatory bodies.

The NNR’s role and the importance of the community representative 

The NNR plays a central role in overseeing nuclear safety and protecting the public from risks. Its decisions are particularly significant at a time when South Africa is navigating key nuclear developments, including long-term operation (LTO) plans for the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station,disposal of high level radioactive waste in Namaqualand, and proposed new build sites such as Thyspunt and Bantamsklip.