Next nuclear bid to include parliament at every step

NEW energy minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has resolved not to challenge a Western Cape High Court ruling that has put the brakes on the government’s controversial nuclear build programme.

Speaking at a media briefing on Saturday morning‚ Kubayi said her department decided not to appeal the ruling that found that the department had flouted rules and the Constitution when it issued proposals or requests for information related the nuclear build programme without following proper process.

But she said this did not necessarily mean that they agreed with the judgment in its entirety.

“We accept that as a department there are things that we could have done better‚ but we think that the judgment‚ in certain areas has gone beyond should have done.

“On certain parts it was as if the judgment was based on public opinion and not on the law‚ that I think I need to go on record on. The fact that we’re not appealing does not mean we agree what it with the judgment hundred percent‚ we don’t. We do not agree with the view that we’ve failed the nation as a department‚” said Kubayi.

The court last month set aside government’s intergovernmental agreements with Russia‚ the US and South Korea related to the nuclear deal‚ finding them to be unconstitutional and unlawful following a court application by anti-nuclear lobby groups.

The agreements were tabled in parliament by axed energy minister Tina Joemat- without parliamentary approval or public participation.

Kubayi said her department would negotiate new intergovernmental agreements with five countries – China‚ France‚ Russia‚ the United States and South Korea – and they would be fully transparent and involve parliament in every step this time around. — TMG