- Calls grow for government to abandon oil, gas and nuclear projects seen as threats to a just energy transition.
With just weeks to go before the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, South African faith and community leaders are calling on government to abandon what they describe as “high-risk and outdated” energy projects that could derail the country’s Just Energy Transition (JET).
The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) has warned that expanding oil, gas, and nuclear investments risks locking the country into decades of inequality and fossil fuel dependence. The appeal comes amid mounting controversy over offshore exploration projects, Eskom’s proposal to extend the operating life of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s Unit 2, and indications that the government’s draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) could include additional nuclear capacity.
“South Africa stands at a crossroads,” said SAFCEI energy justice coordinator Ntombizodidi Mapapu. “Offshore oil and gas expansion and new nuclear investments are costly distractions from real solutions. Communities across the country are saying clearly: we cannot keep betting on energy options that harm our people, pollute our environment and delay a just transition.”
Communities Mobilise Through “No Faith in False Solutions” Campaign
Through its No Faith in False Solutions campaign, SAFCEI is training 45 faith and community leaders nationwide to strengthen grassroots advocacy, engage in public consultations, and push for cleaner, community-centred energy alternatives.
Among them is Hilary Swartz, a business and faith representative from Atlantis, who attended a recent National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) hearing on the proposed extension of Koeberg’s licence.
“As someone representing both business and faith-based groups in Atlantis, I’m deeply concerned about the safety and evacuation risks,” said Swartz. “Our community lives next to the plant — we’d be the first affected if anything went wrong. There’s no clear evacuation plan, and many people lack the resources to relocate in an emergency. That’s unacceptable.”
Swartz added that extending Koeberg’s lifespan could undermine local economic stability. “If an accident occurred, the consequences for our economy, environment and families would be catastrophic. Government should be investing in renewable energy that creates jobs and protects communities, not clinging to outdated technologies. Nuclear is a false solution — it doesn’t belong in South Africa’s just transition.”
Safety and Transparency Concerns Around Koeberg and Vaalputs
Nearby, faith leader Wiedaad Davids, chairperson of West Coast Faith Solutions in Saldanha Bay, echoed safety concerns.
“At almost 40 years old, is Koeberg really in a safe enough condition? The public deserves evidence that this plant meets all safety requirements before any extension is approved,” Davids said. “Decisions that could have far-reaching impacts for our communities are being made without considering the real dangers to ordinary South Africans.”
In the Northern Cape, Justin Montzinger from Port Nolloth raised alarm over the long-term management of nuclear waste at the Vaalputs storage site.
“Our communities have lived near Vaalputs for years, yet most of us have never been properly informed about the safety measures or long-term plans,” Montzinger said. “People deserve clear information about what makes radioactive waste dangerous and how it’s handled — especially if Koeberg’s operation is to be extended for another two decades.”
Justin Montzinger. Image credit: SAFCEI
Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Also Under Fire
Along South Africa’s coastline, fisher and faith communities are raising similar concerns about offshore oil and gas exploration, which they say threatens marine life, fisheries, and livelihoods.
Deborah De Wee, a small-scale fisher and faith leader from Doringbaai, said the government’s push for fossil fuel expansion ignores the lived realities of coastal people.
“Offshore drilling and nuclear expansion harm our environment and our health. For coastal communities, climate change and pollution are already real,” she said. “Government must support clean energy that protects our oceans and sustains our way of life.”
Davids added that many coastal communities have been sidelined in consultation processes.
“No oil company can guarantee there won’t be spills or accidents, yet we’re expected to risk the ocean that feeds and sustains us,” she said. “Future generations have the right to inherit clean seas and safe livelihoods — not more pollution and inequality.”
Montzinger said the wave of proposed offshore projects along the coastline has left many feeling unheard — but that’s starting to change.
“It feels as though risky projects are being imposed on our communities with little consultation. But through SAFCEI’s campaign, people are learning their rights and refusing to be spectators in decisions that affect their lives,” he said. “A truly just transition must put people and safety first — not profits or politics.”
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
