Only EFF can save SA from load shedding, says Malema
EFF leader Julius Malema tackled the issue of the energy crisis during his address at the party's 10th birthday celebrations at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
Julius Malema told scores of party supporters that "only the EFF can protect the provision of electricity" for the millions of South Africans who are having to deal with daily planned blackouts.
“We are not opposed to 'just transition' (from coal to greener energy) but we are not going to close our coal power stations until a 'just transition' produces equivalent megawatts to the same power stations you want us to close.
"We are not going to sell our coal to anyone if you say we can’t use coal yet, you want to sell it and take it to your country. No one must take coal from South Africa if they can’t allow us to use coal.”
South Africa's Just Energy Transition is meant to move the country from coal to clean energy.
A deal struck between South Africa and a number of developed countries at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021, commits South Africa to accelerating its phase-out of coal-fired power generation in return for funding.
It is in line to receive up to $8.5bn under the programme, but has come under from some quarters, including from Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
However, Ramokgopa has told South Africans that load shedding should soon be a thing of the past.
This is as three generating units at Kusile Power Station are expected to come back online by the end of the year.
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