OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTERS OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH

The document argues that Eskom is obstructing South Africa's transition to renewable energy and violating constitutional rights through the continued operation of polluting coal-fired power stations. The signatories call for the removal of barriers to small-scale renewable energy, the decommissioning of ageing coal plants, and greater transparency regarding emission compliance plans.

• The signatories argue that renewable energy is the most cost-effective and technically feasible option for South Africa's electricity supply, contradicting claims by Eskom CEO Brian Molefe. They highlight that the renewable energy IPP procurement programme (REIPPPP) has stimulated nearly R200 billion in private investment and created approximately 25,000 jobs.
• Eskom is accused of violating constitutional rights to a healthy environment by failing to comply with air quality standards at its coal-fired power stations. The letter notes that Eskom has previously argued that the costs of compliance outweigh the health impacts of its emissions.
• The document criticizes Eskom's plan to "renew" rather than decommission ageing coal-fired power stations from the 1960s and 1970s, stating this contradicts South Africa's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement to transition to a low-carbon energy sector.
• Civil society organisations report a lack of transparency from Eskom, specifically regarding the failure to respond to a Promotion of Access to Information Act request for emission compliance plans, decommissioning schedules, and board decision-making timelines.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2016). OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTERS OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Final-NGO-open-letter-to-Ministers-on-Eskom_6-Sept-2016_with-additions.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTERS OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH. 2016. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Final-NGO-open-letter-to-Ministers-on-Eskom_6-Sept-2016_with-additions.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTERS OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH |date=6 September 2016 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Final-NGO-open-letter-to-Ministers-on-Eskom_6-Sept-2016_with-additions.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2016open, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTERS OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND HEALTH}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Final-NGO-open-letter-to-Ministers-on-Eskom_6-Sept-2016_with-additions.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }