Powering Justice Redefining a Just Energy Transition through a South African Lens

The thesis is aimed at providing a more holistic understanding of justice in the context of the JET in South Africa. It explores how different stakeholders understand the concept of justice as applied in the energy transition using the case of Nkangala District Municipality (NDM). Marginalized and often neglected people have shared their perspectives resulting in innovative perspectives on a JET.

Key Findings/Recommendations: The concept of a JET is new, contested and moreover unknown to many people in the NDM. The concept is furthermore associated with many fears. Nevertheless, most participants acknowledged the importance of the energy transition due to the pressing health issues resulting from the dense presence of mines and coal-fired power stations. Within the transition participants argued that ‘uplifting people from hardship’, ‘access to accurate information and development of skills’, ‘meaningful engagement’, ‘energy sovereignty’, ‘transformative governance’ and ‘ameliorating the PCC process’ are crucial elements in realizing a JET in the NDM. At present, the decommissioning of the coal-fired power station Komati was considered more a myth than reality. The research also highlighted three distinct storylines: 'JET as a threat to livelihoods,' 'JET as a necessity to safeguard well-being,' and 'JET as a neocolonial practice.'

Read online: https://edepot.wur.nl/634668