Browsing by Author "Mqadi, Lwandle Jackie"

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    Integrated sustainability transitions framework to guide governance of strategic electricity planning
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Mqadi, Lwandle Jackie; Musango, Josephine Kaviti; Brent, Alan C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : South Africa’s electricity sector is characterised by the unique social, political and economic legacy of apartheid, which still profoundly impacts decision making and the contemporary politics of sustainability transition. A series of processes is converging to force the issue of sustainability and to drive South Africa’s low-carbon energy transition. The overall research question of this study was: Can a sustainability transition framework be conceptualised to address the challenge of low-carbon electricity transition in South Africa? This was achieved through a critical literature analysis, qualitative system dynamics using causal loop diagrams and stakeholder and expert interviews. From the literature, it was observed that the challenges facing South Africa’s strategic electricity planning result from the related politics, differing views owing to different stakeholder preferences, lack of transparency in electricity planning and misalignment between development policies and objectives. On this basis, the study developed a conceptual integrated electricity sustainability transition framework. From qualitative system dynamics, it was observed that resistance to Integrated Resource Plan development, adoption and overall implementation has contributed negatively to the electricity sustainability transition agenda. Further, ongoing interventions merely deal with symptoms rather than the root cause of the Integrated Resources Plan challenges. It is in this context that this study engaged with the stakeholder and various experts and reviewed the strategic electricity planning process in South Africa, taking into consideration the socio-political economy complexity challenges within an established theoretical sustainability transition framework. The study finally recommends for the need to entrench the integrated electricity sustainability transition framework into the existing Integrated Resources Plan approach in South Africa. This would ensure that the complex sustainability policy objectives are aligned within the electricity planning process. An examination of implementation feasibility and relevance of the proposed conceptual framework affirmed the persistent resistance towards Integrated Resources Plan development and its adoption as well as how its implementation has negatively impacted the electricity sustainability transition agenda. Further, the study established that a policy governance-driven framework, embedded in South Africa’s Integrated Resources Plan approach, is vital to tackle issues of policy and governance, transparency, vested interests and associated politics, alignment, stakeholder engagement and monitoring and evaluation.