Minister to face grilling over nuclear judgment

PARLIAMENT wants answers from Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi following the Western Cape High Court’s damning judgment on the country’s nuclear deal.

Chairperson of the portfolio committee on energy Fikile Majola said yesterday they would get more answers when they meet Kubayi on Tuesday.

He said it was an urgent matter, and despite this being a scheduled meeting to discuss strategic plans for the Department of Energy, the committee would raise the issue of the court judgment and its implications.

Kubayi said she would consult with Parliament following the judgment.

Majola said the committee would engage with Kubayi when she shows up in Parliament.

Analysts warned against the damage the judgment has cause President Jacob Zuma and the government.

Dawie Roodt, chief economist at The Efficient Group, said the court ruling highlighted two key things. “The ruling says you have to follow certain procedures. It is about rules and procedures,” said Roodt.

He said the government should have stuck to the rules and procedures in the nuclear procurement.

The second issue was about the affordability of nuclear. He said the programme was too expensive and would bankrupt the state. Roodt added there was no money in the fiscus and the government should abandon the nuclear programme.

It was estimated it would cost between R500 billion and R1 trillion, but the government has not put a figure to it.

Professor Somadoda Fikeni of Unisa said the judgment had caused reputational damage to the government. He added that the project was unaffordable.

He warned that if it was pushed through for any other reason, it would be challenged in the courts again.

Kubayi said she was applying her mind to the court judgment and had not decided whether to appeal it.

Kubayi took over the reins from Tina Joemat-Pettersson after the cabinet reshuffle last month.

She is expected to face questions from MPs on Tuesday over the judgment. Civil society took the government to court two years ago to challenge the deal, including the fact it was shrouded in secrecy.