A comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023

dc.contributor.advisorNxele, Musawenkosi
dc.contributor.authorKhumalo, Sbusiso
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-28T07:55:35Z
dc.date.available2025-08-28T07:55:35Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-08-28T07:50:41Z
dc.description.abstractThis research traces South Africa's energy transition. It examines to what extent South Africa is on a just transition trajectory by comparing the minerals-energy complex and the current transition to renewable energy. It conducts this review of just transition through the lens of “equity” and suggests that “just transition” concerns equity or equitable distribution. It examines if South Africa is on a just transition by researching four dimensions of equity. The dimensions include (a) energy security, (b) the inclusivity of job creation, (c) redress for historical injustices experienced by vulnerable communities, and (d) broad-based empowerment initiatives. This is measured and deduced from the empirical review of the extent to which South Africa's energy sector has undergone or is undergoing a just transition. By systematically evaluating these dimensions, the research found that energy security can only be met if fairly distributed to all, avoiding the repetition of the minerals-energy complex structure which was biased against black people. The current renewable energy transition must ensure that the distribution of energy does not prioritise industrial companies but also supplies low-income households with affordable energy. South Africa's energy sector will need to diverge from the minerals-energy complex's narrow or enclave distributional structure. The sector will only be on a just transition if community protection and broad-based initiatives are mandatory targets to be met by private renewable companies (specifically Independent Power Producers). Lastly, stakeholder alignment is important for a successful just transition embedded in energy policies.
dc.identifier.apacitationKhumalo, S. (2025). <i>A comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41635en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationKhumalo, Sbusiso. <i>"A comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41635en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKhumalo, S. 2025. A comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41635en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Khumalo, Sbusiso AB - This research traces South Africa's energy transition. It examines to what extent South Africa is on a just transition trajectory by comparing the minerals-energy complex and the current transition to renewable energy. It conducts this review of just transition through the lens of “equity” and suggests that “just transition” concerns equity or equitable distribution. It examines if South Africa is on a just transition by researching four dimensions of equity. The dimensions include (a) energy security, (b) the inclusivity of job creation, (c) redress for historical injustices experienced by vulnerable communities, and (d) broad-based empowerment initiatives. This is measured and deduced from the empirical review of the extent to which South Africa's energy sector has undergone or is undergoing a just transition. By systematically evaluating these dimensions, the research found that energy security can only be met if fairly distributed to all, avoiding the repetition of the minerals-energy complex structure which was biased against black people. The current renewable energy transition must ensure that the distribution of energy does not prioritise industrial companies but also supplies low-income households with affordable energy. South Africa's energy sector will need to diverge from the minerals-energy complex's narrow or enclave distributional structure. The sector will only be on a just transition if community protection and broad-based initiatives are mandatory targets to be met by private renewable companies (specifically Independent Power Producers). Lastly, stakeholder alignment is important for a successful just transition embedded in energy policies. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - minerals-energy LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - A comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023 TI - A comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023 UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41635 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41635
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationKhumalo S. A comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41635en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentGraduate School of Development Policy and Practice
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectminerals-energy
dc.titleA comparative analysis of South Africa's minerals-energy complex before 2011 and the current pursuit of a renewable just energy transition post-2011 to 2023
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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