Share

Is nuclear energy the driver of corruption in ANC?

Cape Town – A key issue regarding the 9.6GW nuclear new build programme that is not being explored enough is the “whispering” of an allegedly corrupt deal and what impact this could have on the programme.

That was the message from two respected nuclear energy experts at a University of Cape Town (UCT) research paper debate on Thursday evening.

Responding to Tara Caetano’s UCT Energy Research Centre technical report on the nuclear plan, Professor Trevor Gaunt said the “analysis of socio-economic risks makes no mention of corruption”.

“This elephant in the room will knock us out,” he said.

READ: Tara Caetano explains why there is no economic case for SA nuclear plan

Responding to Dr Britta Rennkamp’s analysis of the social shaping of nuclear energy technology, Professor Anton Eberhard said the issue of corruption was dealt with “quite delicately”.

Rennkamp explained in her paper that the central arguments in the nuclear debate are costs, safety, job creation, the appropriateness of nuclear energy, emissions reductions, transparency, risks for corruption, and geopolitical influences.

However, Eberhard said the debate around corruption could become the central issue.

“Let’s lay it out,” he said. “It is not just rent seeking behaviour. Some have argued that it (the nuclear programme) is the driver of corruption in the ruling party (African National Congress)”.

Referring to Rand Daily Mail author Lily Gosam – a pseudonym to protect the writer – Eberhard said there were serious concerns there could be links to Russian funding for party elections in South Africa.

The allegations echo that of the Arms Deal, which a commission controversially cleared of corruption in April.

In the story, “How Zuma planned to capture the country”, Gosam indicates how Russian President Vladimir Putin could have influenced President Jacob Zuma as a leader and as a nuclear proponent.

Eberhard said these issues of corruption at a national level “are critical and might be the explanatory aspect of nuclear energy” in South Africa.

Cabinet’s energy war room adviser, Eberhard in March called on the government to remove uncertainty about nuclear and “demonstrate that this initiative is not corrupt and will not be ruinous for the economy”.

Eberhard, who specialises in infrastructure reform and regulation at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, wrote in Business Day that the 9.6GW nuclear programme will be an unnecessary financial burden in a country on the verge of a ratings downgrade.

Allegations of corruption and secrecy have been a concern ever since South Africa signed an intergovernmental agreement with Russia in 2014.

READ: Nuclear corruption, affordability concerns gain traction

Government correspondence provided to the lawyers of Earthlife Africa Jhb and the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (Safcei) as part of their court action against the procurement of new nuclear reactors, "reveals that government deliberately attempted to undermine our court case", the two anti-nuclear groups said in March.

"When government gazetted a nuclear section 34 determination made in 2013 in December 2015, it was to pave the way for the suspect Russian deal," the groups said.

"However, because this nuclear section 34 determination was made without public participation and was kept secret for two years, government’s plan has backfired, and our case has now been strengthened."

READ: Environmentalists: SA did sign nuclear deal with Russia

It’s not that Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson hasn’t been vocal on corruption regarding the nuclear programme.

She laid down a challenge to Members of Parliament and the public in 2015 during a Portfolio Committee on Energy in Cape Town.

“If members are aware of any corruption now or in future, please can you ask institutions to investigate those,” she said. “We will bring reports of those investigations to this committee.”

"We would want these agreements to be scrutinised and exposed to public scrutiny," said Joemat-Pettersson, who has made several similar statements since then.

Gordon Mackay, the Democratic Alliance shadow minister of energy, said at the time that while “the minister continued to claim ‘transparency’ – this could not be further from the truth".

READ: Expose any nuclear corruption now, says minister

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.01
-0.4%
Rand - Pound
24.16
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.66
-0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.39
+0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.13
+0.5%
Platinum
906.17
-1.9%
Palladium
1,006.16
0.0%
Gold
2,156.08
-0.2%
Silver
24.93
-0.5%
Brent Crude
86.89
+1.8%
Top 40
66,252
0.0%
All Share
72,431
0.0%
Resource 10
53,317
0.0%
Industrial 25
100,473
0.0%
Financial 15
16,622
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders