Russia isn’t coming, assures ANC, Majola

Opposition accuse energy minister of skirting procurement issue

THE ANC and Deputy Minister of Energy Thembi Majola have defended attacks on Energy Minister Jeff Radebe by the opposition for skirting issues around a possible nuclear deal. Yesterday, opposition parties fired a salvo against Radebe for failing to come clean on the nuclear deal.

Majola, who was responding to the debate on energy, said opposition parties were obsessed about nuclear and the Russians.

“On the Russian deal, it’s just an obsession. We will be guided by a technically sound Integrated Resource Plan. If you want a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, we will facilitate that for you,” Majola told opposition MPs.

This followed accusations by the EFF, Cope and DA that the Russians had sewn up a deal with the government.

They said it was part of the project initiated by former president Jacob Zuma.

Thandeka Gqada of the DA and Cope’s Willie Madisha said the Russian deal was done and dusted and Radebe must stop skirting issues.

But ANC MP Zukisa Faku said this was not true. “Gqada, nuclear is not about the massive nuclear build programme. Madisha, all you did when you were here, you came with conspiracy theories. You did not debate energy,” said Faku.

But the DA’s Kevin Mileham said South Africa could not afford nuclear energy as it was expensive.

He said this was the sentiment expressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the World Economic Forum in Zurich, Switzerland, in January.

Mileham added they would not allow another corrupt deal in government. They would not allow the involvement of the Russians in nuclear, he said.

Nhlanhla Khubisa of the National Freedom Party said nuclear was off the table. “As you know, the matter went to court and it was set aside,” he said.

Anton Alberts, of the Freedom Front Plus, said Radebe must come clean on nuclear. “We ask you, minister, to forget about any nuclear plans. We have enough sunshine in this country,” said Alberts.

The government was taken to court by Earthlife Africa two years ago to stop the nuclear procurement programme.

This was after the government had appointed Eskom as the lead agent in the procurement. Despite more than 25 companies bidding for the project, the process was halted after they submitted proposals.