Catholic bishops calls for a national referendum on government’s nuclear plans

The Justice and Peace Commission for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has called on the government to suspend its nuclear procurement plans.

Last week on Saturday, the department of energy formally announced the cabinet decision to go ahead with the procurement of nuclear energy for South Africa.

According to the commission, the economic risks and safety risks of the nuclear option outweigh its economic benefits, and the government should therefore concentrate its efforts and fiscal resources on renewable energy.

The economic risks include unaffordability of the procurement.  

The department of energy and the treasury have not yet produced evidence to show that the nuclear procurement is affordable to the country and consumers.   

Other than affordability risks, the statement of the commission pointed to the safety risks and the threat to human life.

“Although the probability of a nuclear accident is relatively low, the consequences of such an accident cause health hazards for thousands of people and render hundreds of kilometres of land uninhabitable and unsuitable for any use for decades.”  

“Considering the enormity of the damage when an accident occurs, the dangers of nuclear energy to human life will always remain very high.” Bishop Gabuza, the chair person for the Justice and Peace Commission said.

 In view of such safety risks, after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, several countries, including Germany, Switzerland and Spain, decided to phase out their programmes on nuclear energy.

The commission has therefore appealed to the government to urgently call for a nuclear referendum.

Bishop Gabuza explained that “given the enormity of the risks that the South African government is asking its citizens to bear through the nuclear option, including the enormous safety risks and economic risks, it is only fair that the government directly consults its people on the matter.  A referendum is the best instrument for realising the common good on this important matter.”

In June 2011, the Italian government conducted a similar referendum to poll its citizens on its plans to generate 25% of the country's electricity from nuclear power by 2030. The referendum rejected government plans for nuclear procurement.

“If our government truly believes that its nuclear decision is serving the best interests of the majority of South Africans, it should not be afraid to emulate the Italian example and open up the matter to a national referendum before the formal bidding process commences.” Bishop Gabuza added.

Statement issued by Bishop Abel Gabuza, Chairperson of the Justice and Peace Commission for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, 29 December 2015

The Justice and Peace Commission is an advocacy body established by the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) to tackle the structural roots of poverty and inequality.