By Lilja Flohr
As winter approaches and electricity demand rises, Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, virtually visited Stellenbosch University (SU) on 13 May, to discuss South Africa’s energy future, the impact of load shedding, and the country’s shift toward more sustainable energy sources.
The virtual lecture was hosted at the Faculty of Engineering’s Reitz Hall as part of the Department of Electricity and Energy’s energy skills outreach programme. It mainly focused on South Africa’s energy mix and the skills needed for long-term energy stability and economic growth.
Highlighted by all speakers of the event, the implications of South Africa’s energy challenges are especially increasingly direct for students. Load shedding, rising electricity and fuel costs, and broader economic instability all feed into a job market that is already under the pressure of limited opportunities and high competition.
As industries adapt to a changing energy landscape, students will not only be affected as consumers but also as future workers entering a rapidly transforming sector. This makes energy policy less of a distant political issue and more of a determining factor in employment prospects, skills demand and long-term economic opportunity for South Africa’s youth.
Ramokgopa stressed that energy policy affects far more than electricity. Securing a stable, affordable energy supply is the foundation for economic growth, employment and daily household life, meaning that South Africa’s energy challenges impact every sector of society. During the address, Ramokgopa emphasised this critical link, stating, “Energy is the oxygen that breathes life into this economy.” With winter increasing pressure on the national grid, energy security remains one of the country’s most urgent concerns. Ramokgopa argued that load shedding and broader energy insecurity over the past decades have slowed economic growth, discouraged investment and contributed to unemployment, bluntly warning that “if the lights are off, we are unlikely to grow the economy”.
Global developments have further intensified these pressures. Conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East continue to disrupt international oil and gas markets, increasing fuel and energy costs worldwide. Ramokgopa explained that these disruptions highlight why many countries are prioritising energy resilience and self-sufficiency. The global geopolitical instability serves as the primary catalyst forcing South Africa to restructure its long-term strategy around indigenous energy and electricity resources. He noted that this shift is part of a grander vision, explaining, “South Africa is not just transitioning its energy system; it is building the infrastructure backbone of Africa’s future power economy.”
Much of the lecture focused on renewable energy as part of South Africa’s long-term solution to this, restructuring towards self-sufficiency. The country has some of the highest solar irradiation levels globally, largely located in the Northern Cape, alongside strong wind resources across the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape. These conditions position South Africa as a strong candidate for large-scale renewable energy development.
At the same time, Ramokgopa emphasised that renewable energy must form part of a broader, balanced energy mix. Nuclear energy was included in the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) discussions for the first time and was presented as a key source of stable baseload power and industrial support.
The lecture repeatedly returned to the role of students and universities in shaping this transition. As South Africa expands its energy sector and infrastructure, new technical, scientific and research skills will be essential. To meet these future demands, the Minister argued that “we need to accelerate the pipeline of engineers. The future is here and you must exercise here,” Ramokgopa told students, adding that South Africa “won’t be able to achieve this without you”.
