Decentralising the Just Energy Transition

This briefing by Good Governance Africa explores the role of the private sector in decentralising the just energy transition (JET) in South Africa, with a specific focus on Mpumalanga province. It argues that while South Africa is highly coal-dependent and vulnerable to climate change, there is a significant gap in private sector visibility and coordination with local municipalities. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and civic engagement, the private sector can improve service delivery, enhance climate resilience, and foster economic growth at the local level.

• South Africa is one of the world's most coal-dependent nations, with nearly 86% of its carbon dioxide emissions originating from coal, and it produces nearly a quarter of the total carbon emissions for the African continent.
• Public awareness of climate change in South Africa is low; an Afrobarometer survey from 2023 found that only about 43% of respondents had heard of climate change. Among those aware, only 16% believe business and industry are primarily responsible for limiting it, compared to 37% who attribute responsibility to the government and 36% to ordinary South Africans.
• Mpumalanga province is central to South Africa's just energy transition as it accounts for 83% of the country's coal production and houses 12 of its 15 coal-fired power stations. However, the province faces severe challenges, including the third-highest unemployment rate in the country at 38.5% and significant health issues caused by air pollution.
• A comparison of two municipalities in Mpumalanga using the Governance Performance Index (GPI) shows that Govan Mbeki Local Municipality performed better in service delivery (score of 3.92) than Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (score of 2.40). Govan Mbeki has utilised public-private partnerships for social infrastructure and water projects, while Bushbuckridge has faced community protests over lack of clean water and sanitation.
• The private sector can support the decentralisation of the just energy transition by investing in sustainable infrastructure, such as upgrading electricity distribution networks and water treatment plants, and by hosting civic engagement drives and 'lekgotla' dialogues to bridge climate knowledge gaps in rural areas and schools.

APA

Mongae, M., & Ohamadike, N. (n.d.). Decentralising the Just Energy Transition. Good Governance Africa. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2024/03/GPI_Just_Energy_Transition_IR.pdf

Chicago

Mongae, Mmabatho, and Nnaemeka Ohamadike. Decentralising the Just Energy Transition. Good Governance Africa, n.d. https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2024/03/GPI_Just_Energy_Transition_IR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mongae |first1=Mmabatho |last2=Ohamadike |first2=Nnaemeka |title=Decentralising the Just Energy Transition |publisher=Good Governance Africa |url=https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2024/03/GPI_Just_Energy_Transition_IR.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mongaenddecentralising, author = {Mongae, Mmabatho and Ohamadike, Nnaemeka}, title = {{Decentralising the Just Energy Transition}}, institution = {Good Governance Africa}, url = {https://digitalmallblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/wp-content/2024/03/GPI_Just_Energy_Transition_IR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }