In a rousing call to action, Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has called for G20 countries to ensure that the Energy Transitions Working Group and Ministerial meetings serve as a beacon of hope for those living on the margins of society.
The Minister delivered the opening address at the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting held in Ballito, north of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday.
‘Strengthen our unity’
“May this gathering stand as a beacon of hope, as testament strengthen our unity, compassion and collective resolve.
“This moment should not be defined by contests of economic power or political will, but by our shared duty to the people we serve individually and together,” Ramokgopa said.
The Minister implored the gathering to bear in mind the plight of those they serve.
“We must place at the forefront the real, lived experiences of women and men, of young people and children striving to make ends meet, trapped in cycles of poverty and exposed to the persistent challenges that weigh upon our communities.
“We cannot turn away from those who live on the margins of society, denied electricity, clean water, sanitation and healthcare. Nor can we ignore millions of children growing up in deprivation, deprived of education and opportunity, and of the simple right to dream without limits. Their reality must be the heartbeat of our deliberations,” he said.
‘People above profit’
Ramokgopa emphasised that the gathering calls upon the leaders to “chart a different path one that values people above profit”.
“Let this be a moment where we realise a world that is just, equitable [and] humane. A world where every person in every nation is given the chance not merely to survive, but to thrive.
“As we open this fourth Ministerial Meeting, we are reminded that our work here is both a conclusion and a beginning. It concludes a Presidency that has sought to balance ambition with inclusivity and it begins a new phase where future presidencies will take forward these outcomes, as we chart a new G20-led revolution to reaffirm Africa’s centrality in ensuring that we power our respective countries and especially those of developing economies,” he said.
‘Stands proud’
The Minister reflected on South Africa’s leadership of the G20 over the past year.
“South Africa stands proud to have steered this process. Not for us alone but for Africa, for the global south and the world.
“Let us ensure that Durban is remembered as the moment where we reaffirmed our shared commitment to secure affordable, reliable and accessible energy, to balance just and sovereign energy transitions and to a future where industrialisation and sustainability walk hand in hand,” Ramokgopa concluded.
