Several St Francis residents in the Eastern Cape and some from the surrounding Kouga area took to social media the past couple of days following news that Coega Development Corporation based near Gqeberha, and Eskom have signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in support of South Africa’s Nuclear New Build Programme (NNBP), and the building of a nuclear site at Thyspunt.
At least two social media and WA groups, had a few social media pages of residents’ comments venting their antagonism to the proposal for a nuclear power station to be built at Thyspunt. As in the past attempts not to allow this to happen and successfully succeeding legally, have caused residents, and even non-residents, to express their anti-nuclear feelings.
Eskom also revealed possible plans to develop the HTMR-100, which is a high temperature reactor known as an ideal reactor for non-electricity functions, such as water desalination, or the provision of industrial heat. The HTMR plants do not need to be built on the seaside and Eskom says there is possibility of having them built in factories at at Coega situated in the Gqeberha/PE area. Electricity Minister, Ramokgopa announced in 2017 Pebble Bed Modular Reactors (PBMR) could place the country back to in its’ “rightful place’ at the forefront of nuclear technology. “It means we can reopen the fuel development laboratories to undertake research and development,” he said , adding that South Africa is going to be another player in that space.
Like politics, on the subject of nuclear, St Francis Bay is once again divided over hot issues. Nuclear is no exception. On the one hand there are those who are pro-nuclear development because they “don’t want load-shedding and to live by candlelight”.
On the other, there are those who plan to fight any nuclear development as they are anti-nuclear, with some terrified, owing to possibilities of disaster occurring and/or destroying the unique St Francis area they wish to keep pristine.
In the past, attempts, including court cases to prevent nuclear happening in South Africa have successfully succeeded. Now the anti-nuclear group of residents, and even non-residents over the past couple of days have stated they are going to fight any nuclear plans.
Public meetings have been arranged by Eskom to enable those against the development to air their views, and Eskom will respond to their questions, it says. The dates for St Francis residents is 20 April.
Eskom has related that if not at Thyspunt, the next choice for it to build a nuclear site will be at Bantamsklip in the Western Province. Here are all the dates for the meetings to be held in several Kouga municipal area.
Meeting number Date Time Venue Address
1 07 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Hermanus Municipal Auditorium 1 Magnolia St, Hermanus, 7200
2 08 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 NG Kerk Pearly Beach Main Road, Pearly Beach, 7220
3 09 April 2026 18:30 – 20:30 Gansbaai Tourism Information and Conference Center Hall Great White Junction, Main Road, Gansbaai, 7220
4 20 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 St Francis Bay Golf Club 556 Lyme Rd, St Francis Bay, 6312
5 21 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 KwaNomzamo Community Hall Mjekula St, Humansdorp, 6300
6 22 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Sea Vista Hall Geelbek St, St Francis Bay, 6312
7 23 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Oyster Bay Hall Oester Ave, Oyster Bay
8 24 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Newton Hall 17 Goedehoop St, Jeffreys Bay, 6330
Here is the link again for the article published by St Francis Chronicle yesterday: https://stfrancischronicle.com/2026/04/10/coega-and-eskom-sign-a-memorandum-of-understanding-for-nuclear/
St Francis Chronicle 