NIGHT FALL

The  Green Connection took  the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to court to “force” them to suppy it with the details of the deal. The court ordered them to hand over confidential documentation over to the Green Connection. Green Connections wants in its bid to set aside the contracts.

Joining me

Priyanka Naidoo

Legal and Outreach Advisor at Green Connections

Karpower – Could Cost An Arm And A Leg And Our Oceans And Environment

It is the start of Environment Month and this week – on Tuesday 4 June 2024 – The Green Connection is back in court, this time to ‘force’ the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to supply critical information regarding the Karpowerships deals. However, in an interesting turn of events, while government will still oppose the challenge, the three (3) Karpowerships companies have withdrawn their opposition and will abide by the court’s decision. The application is being heard in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

This is a case within a case. The larger legal challenge against Nersa’s decision to grant three electricity generation licenses to the Karpowership SA companies to operate powerships in the ports of Saldanha, Ngqura (Coega) and Richards Bay. This was important because Nersa had granted the license approvals unlawfully.

We’ve been chatting to different independent candidates for this upcoming election. 

Guest: Faith Phathela, Independent candidate from Limpopo

Faith Ntakadzeni Phathela, a devout believer, is driven by a mission she believes stems from God’s will.

Born on Halloween (31 October), Phathela sees her birthdate as symbolic of a divine purpose: to cleanse South Africa of the corruption that plagues its government.

The 37-year-old independent candidate from Limpopo is taking on established political parties, armed with her unwavering faith and a vision for a better South Africa.

“For me, being born on that day shows I was born to destroy the works of darkness,” she told City Press this week.

Born in Thohoyandou and now living in Louis Trichardt, she is one of only two independent candidates contesting the election in Limpopo. Despite lacking formal political experience, she is undeterred, driven by her belief in a “godly government” that prioritises the needs of the people.

Guest: Kganki Matabane, Black Business Council

There’s been debate among some writers and activists that these elections taking place next week Wednesday lack a socialist voice. Is that the case? Is there a future for socialism in South Africa?

Guest: Gunnett Kaaf, Marxist writer and activist

• The next elections and socialist voices
• Parties that claim to be left
• Socialism in SA if it has a chance

Ebrahim Harvey | South Africa's missing socialist voice in the 2024 polls

Once again, South Africans go to the polls on 29 May without a socialist party dedicated to the interests and needs of the black working-class majority, whose lives are wrecked by worsening poverty, unemployment and social inequalities. Not even the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP), which had participated in the 2019 national and provincial elections, has registered for the 2024 one.