Gwede Mantashe – I won’t be swayed
The demand for coal is declining worldwide, but it remains the primary source of energy. The International Energy Agency says China and Africa will continue to rely on this fossil fuel.
This is also the strategy in South Africa. Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said he would not be swayed by lobby groups.
Some lobby groups want the building of coal-fired power stations to stop and the existing ones to reduce emissions.
Speaking during the official release of the International Energy Agency’s 2019 coal report, Mantashe says knee-jerk reactions will devastate the economy.
“Those who are shouting at us that we must do things haphazardly are actually want to cause chaos to the economy,” he said.
The minister said he is prepared to listen to lobbyists from all sides of the energy debate, including non-renewable resources.
Mantashe made an analogy in his explanation.
“I am from a province called the Eastern Cape where people were called to kill their cattle [because] there is a new world coming. That new world has not come, we are starving up to today.
“So everybody who comes to me and says destroy what you have because there is hope you will battle because I am informed by this experience.”
In other news – Uzalo actor Masoja Msiza steals R18 000
The star was a no show at an event he was already paid for. Popular Uzalo actor Masoja Msiza, who acts as hard gangster Nkunzi in the TV show has found himself in real-life bad publicity after allegedly conning promoters of R18 000.
iHarare has learnt that Masoja together with two other actors were approached by event organizers Esona Masele and Zukisa Robiyane. continue reading
Source: eNCA
