- South Africa’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Mr Gwede Mantashe, fired Peter Becker from the NNR Board in late February after first suspending him. Read more
- Mantashe cited a conflict of interest as the reason.
The NNR Act of 1999 requires that the Board of the NNR includes a person representing civil society. Becker of the Koeberg Alert Alliance was appointed to the Board to fulfil this role. Becker has filed a court application with the Western Cape High Court naming Mantashe, the NNR and the NNR Board Chair as respondents. He is requesting the court to set aside his dismissal contesting that is was “unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.”
Related news: Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant beset with security breaches and billions lost in plant life extension delays
Minister Mantashe has submitted an affidavit to the High Court in response to a high court application by Peter Becker to review the decision by the Minister to dismiss him from the Board of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR). Previous posts included the Founding Affidavit, the Supplementary Founding Affidavit and the Answering Affidavit from the NNR and NNR Board Chair. This is the only opportunity for the Minister to present evidence to the court.
The affidavit expresses the view that the function of NNR Board members is to ““Loyally execute the policies of the government of the day” which includes the life extension of Koeberg. The Minister characterises resistance to this plan as “political opposition”, misconduct, and a justified basis for dismissal.
Link to the full Answering Affidavit HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
