Radebe’s inbox

Having initially exercised some restraint in his retention of Dipuo Peters as Energy Minister from May 2009 to July 2013, former President Jacob Zuma grew increasingly agitated by the lack of nuclear progress and made several changes in relatively quick succession. Ben Martins, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and, most recently, David Mahlobo followed. Now President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed of the very senior Jeff Radebe to the post, making Radebe the country’s sixth Energy Minister in five years. The Minister’s first priority is, thus, clear. He has to reinforce the message that nuclear is unaffordable and is not on the cards. Given that Radebe is perceived as being part of the ‘renewal’ cohort of Ramaphosa’s ‘unity and renewal’ Cabinet, this message (which had not been relayed at the time of writing) has most probably already been delivered.