A critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates

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dc.contributor.advisorCamerer, Marianne
dc.contributor.authorRamasesane, Lerato
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-19T12:14:33Z
dc.date.available2025-09-19T12:14:33Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-09-19T12:02:56Z
dc.description.abstractSouth Africa is currently undergoing a Just Energy Transition (JET) that seeks to design and create a clean and just energy industry in South Africa. This process is underpinned by a rapid revision of energy sector policies, regulatory frameworks and debates around energy reform. The aim of the study is to critically analyse the debates and dynamics underpinning Civil Society Organisations' (CSOs) participation as key stakeholders in the JET process taking place within South Africa: How is civil society engaging in the energy reform process in general and specifically with regards to debates around JET in South Africa? Currently civil society engages in state-sanctioned and self-created platforms around JET, however the extent to which it participates, the challenges it faces, and the dynamics of this civil space are not well understood. The research is based on a qualitative research design and involved in-depth interviews with representatives from several CSOs involved in JET debates as well as desktop research. Strategic and purposive sampling was used as a method for choosing respondents best suited to provide answers for the research question. The research found that CSOs actively participate in energy transition debates in South Africa using a variety of strategies and tactics. These include litigation, public participation platforms, media, resistance campaigns and grassroots community activism. Whilst there have been considerable victories - including advocating for energy access, justice and broader consultation - CSOs face resource related challenges, threats and power dynamics whilst engaging in JET processes. There is also a disconnect between local and international CSOs working in this space. Recommendations are made for more funding and collaboration opportunities to increase the scope, depth and participation of civil society in the JET discourse. The research may assist policy makers, CSOs and researchers to better understand the current participation of civil society in the policymaking and reform process of energy transition in South Africa. Also, the debates and dynamics that characterise and inform their engagement.
dc.identifier.apacitationRamasesane, L. (2025). <i>A critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41875en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationRamasesane, Lerato. <i>"A critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41875en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationRamasesane, L. 2025. A critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41875en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Ramasesane, Lerato AB - South Africa is currently undergoing a Just Energy Transition (JET) that seeks to design and create a clean and just energy industry in South Africa. This process is underpinned by a rapid revision of energy sector policies, regulatory frameworks and debates around energy reform. The aim of the study is to critically analyse the debates and dynamics underpinning Civil Society Organisations' (CSOs) participation as key stakeholders in the JET process taking place within South Africa: How is civil society engaging in the energy reform process in general and specifically with regards to debates around JET in South Africa? Currently civil society engages in state-sanctioned and self-created platforms around JET, however the extent to which it participates, the challenges it faces, and the dynamics of this civil space are not well understood. The research is based on a qualitative research design and involved in-depth interviews with representatives from several CSOs involved in JET debates as well as desktop research. Strategic and purposive sampling was used as a method for choosing respondents best suited to provide answers for the research question. The research found that CSOs actively participate in energy transition debates in South Africa using a variety of strategies and tactics. These include litigation, public participation platforms, media, resistance campaigns and grassroots community activism. Whilst there have been considerable victories - including advocating for energy access, justice and broader consultation - CSOs face resource related challenges, threats and power dynamics whilst engaging in JET processes. There is also a disconnect between local and international CSOs working in this space. Recommendations are made for more funding and collaboration opportunities to increase the scope, depth and participation of civil society in the JET discourse. The research may assist policy makers, CSOs and researchers to better understand the current participation of civil society in the policymaking and reform process of energy transition in South Africa. Also, the debates and dynamics that characterise and inform their engagement. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Just energy transition KW - South Africa KW - Civil society LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - A critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates TI - A critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41875 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41875
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationRamasesane L. A critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates. []. 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/11427/41875en_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.subjectJust energy transition
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectCivil society
dc.titleA critical analysis of civil society's engagement in South Africa's just energy transition: dynamics and debates
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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