Cop 26: Floyd Shivambu Wants Ramaphosa to Reject Green Deal, SA Asks How Long Coal Mining Will Continue

• President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the COP 26 conference in Glasgow where he secured R131 billion for clean energy
• The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)'s deputy, Floyd Shivambu, wants to reject the funds as he believes South Africa must create its own energy sources that are self-funded
• Ramaphosa declared that coal power stations will be decommissioned in the next 15 years and that electric public transport will be implemented

GLASGOW - President Cyril Ramaphosa has been attending the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP 26. He entered into a deal with other heads of state to secure funding for greener energy sources.

The countries that have made a deal with South Africa are France, the UK, the US and Germany. Together they have secured R131 billion towards clean energy generation in South Africa.

Read also

COP26: Ramaphosa announces US deal to close SA's coal power plants to fight climate change

However, according to Times Live, Floyd Shivambu, the deputy president of the EFF, wants the funds to be opposed, as he believes it is a form of colonisation.

“Immediately after the elections, we are going to oppose that deal. There won’t be any American who is going to build energy security here in SA. We have our own capacity, there are also a lot of options that we can explore with relation to coal," Shivambu said.

Ramaphosa explains how green deal funds will be used

The R131 billion will be distributed to South Africa over three to five years in different forms, such as grants, to establish a climate-resilient economy. Examples of how this will be achieved include developing electric transport and green hydrogen.

Read also

Ramaphosa speaks on elections: "Through the vote they are expressing themselves"

Ramaphosa also declared that there are plans to decommission coal power stations over the next 15 years. The funds will assist in achieving this as well as green job creation, energy security, and sustainable investments.

In a press release sent to Briefly News, Mohammad Valli Moosa, the deputy chair of the Presidential Climate Commission said that the presidency is committed to creating sustainable and innovative funding sources to accelerate South Africa's climate change goals

This partnership comes at a time when our climate transition remains constrained by weak economic conditions, skills shortages, and a slim fiscal position needed to resource and enable a just transition” Moosa said.

South Africa reacts to Shivambu refusing funds

After Shivambu's statement, South Africans tweeted their feelings about him, believing the funds should be refused. Here is what some of them had to say:

@lenyasalaafrica asked:

"Until when are we going to continue digging the land for coal?"

Read also

Ramaphosa says ANC focused on service delivery ahead of voting, SA not convinced

@AlExtraBM believes:

"Why should there be an alternative when coal is abundant in this land and SA omissions aren't even in the top 10 yet?"

@gwele_zola said:

"They better make sure that their supporters agree with them and when demand for coal finally collapses they will have answers for SA lagging behind in global trends."

@NomaSibanda06 shared:

"As they should. We cannot have other countries owning entities in ours. Rather someone from our country replicates and modifies their idea then initiates it."

Ramaphosa announces US deal to close SA’s coal power plants

Briefly News previously reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa took to social media and announced on his official Facebook account that South Africa would receive support from the US to transition to a low carbon economy.

"I’m pleased to join US President @JoeBiden and other leaders at #COP26 in announcing a historic partnership to support a just transition to a low carbon economy and a climate-resilient society in South Africa," Ramaphosa wrote.

US President Joe Biden announced at the COP26 summit that the US would help close South Africa's coal power plants ahead of schedule. Along with other countries, the US would help South Africa move to a cleaner economy.

Source: Briefly News