Minister Ramokgopa Pushes for Gas Switch with Stove Handover in Mpumalanga’s Clean Cooking Drive
Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has urged South African families to swap dirty fuels like coal for cleaner gas options to cut pollution and boost health. He made the call while officially giving gas stoves to five schools and opening a gas refilling kiosk in KwaZamokuhle Township, Hendrina, Mpumalanga. This move kicks off the G20 Clean Cooking Legacy Programme, a global push to help millions ditch harmful cooking ways. Ramokgopa stressed teaching people about the change, noting many have deep ties to old fuels. “You can’t come into your community and not explain to the elders what it means to switch from coal to gas. Because they’ve got a relationship with coal. I can imagine even my late mother would be very upset with that change. Because they have a special relationship. So it’s the things that we took for granted,” he said. With power cuts still a headache, this could ease the load on the grid while making homes safer and greener.
The event shines a light on South Africa’s shift to just energy, especially in coal-heavy spots like Mpumalanga. Here, folks often use coal for cooking, leading to smoke that hurts lungs and the air. The programme aims to fix that by bringing in gas, which burns cleaner and quicker. As the country eyes a future without old power plants, like the shut-down Komati station nearby, leaders say these steps will help communities without leaving them behind.
Details of the Launch and Handover Ceremony
The handover happened on 4 October 2025 in KwaZamokuhle, a township close to coal mines where many rely on cheap but dirty fuel. Ramokgopa handed over three-burner liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stoves and cylinders to five local schools, including Hendrina Primary School. This replaces their old coal stoves, making meal prep safer for kids and staff. The event also opened an LPG container kiosk, letting residents buy, refill, and store gas easily. Traditional leaders, provincial and local officials, and community members joined in, showing wide support for the shift.
At Hendrina Primary, Principal Lorraine Bopape welcomed the stoves as a good start but said more are needed to go fully gas. Right now, they might still use some coal until extra kit arrives. The handover ties into bigger plans to get schools off polluting fuels, cutting risks like fires or smoke sickness.
Pushing for Gas as a Cleaner, Smarter Choice
Ramokgopa touted gas stoves and heaters as ways to ease pressure on electricity, especially with ongoing load shedding. He wants households to see gas as a reliable backup that saves power and cleans the air. This fits the G20’s goal to speed up clean cooking worldwide, where leaders agreed to help poor areas switch fuels.
In Africa, nearly one billion people lack clean cooking tools, and globally it’s 2.3 billion, per the International Energy Agency. Dirty fuels cause household air pollution linked to over 800,000 early deaths a year, mostly women and kids who do the cooking. By going gas, South Africa aims to slash that harm while building a fair energy switch that creates jobs and skills.
Focus on Education to Win Over Communities
A big part of the plan is teaching people why to drop coal. Ramokgopa said elders especially need gentle talks, given their long bond with coal. He shared a personal bit about his mom to show how change can feel tough. The government plans to run awareness drives, explaining gas perks like less smoke, faster cooks, and better health.
Locals already see wins: One resident said kids and grannies get sick less since ditching coal, cutting clinic trips. Another praised gas heaters as cheaper and easier than electric ones, clearing up township air. These stories show how education can turn doubt into buy-in, making the switch stick.
Rethinking Subsidies and Calling for More Help
To make gas affordable, Ramokgopa floated rethinking free basic electricity aid. “One of the things on how we’re looking at free basic electricity is to rethink how we can subsidise the purchasing of the gas cylinders and their refilling,” he explained. This could help poor families get started without big costs upfront.
The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa (LPGSA) backed the call, with boss Gadibolae Dihlabi urging businesses to chip in more stoves and setups. They see room for private help in schools and homes, growing the programme’s reach. Eskom also joined, donating stoves as part of safe energy pushes.
Ties to Just Energy Transition and Lessons from Komati
This fits South Africa’s just energy transition, moving from coal without hurting jobs or lives. Ramokgopa cited the Komati Power Station shutdown as a bad example – it left the area like a ghost town, with folks struggling for basics. He wants better planning so clean shifts lift communities, not sink them. In Mpumalanga, home to many power plants, gas could create new work in supply and upkeep, softening the blow from coal cuts.
The G20 programme, launched under South Africa’s presidency, draws global eyes and funds to these efforts. It builds on talks at places like Kruger National Park, where leaders pushed Africa’s voice in green changes.
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