Press Release 25 May 2005

New NNR head destroys NNR's credibility
as protector of the public

Earthlife Africa (Johannesburg) has written an open letter to the Board of the National Nuclear Regulator to warn them that the appointment of Maurice Magugugmela as CEO of the NNR will destroy the credibility of the NNR and any hope of a fair process for licensing the PBMR.

The NNR Board will meet on Tuesday 26 July and Earthlife Africa expects this issue to be on the agenda.

Earthlife Africa protests against the “take-over” of the National Nuclear Regulator by the PBMR Company, and demands the resignation of Mr Maurice Magugumela, until recently the Licensing Manager of the PBMR Co, from his position as CEO of the NNR. It cannot be acceptable for him to preside over his own licensing application created during his tenure at the PBMR company.

His appointment again illustrates the absurdity of locating the agency charged with the protection of the public against radiation damage in a department - the Department of  Minerals and Energy (DME) - that actively promotes the nuclear industry. The DME seems to feel free to take crucial decisions without consulting the NNR Board.

It undermines the efforts of some NNR staff to play the role of a real public protector, as witnessed by the NNR's quick action to safeguard the unguarded calibration facility outside Pelindaba, and its ongoing efforts to liaise with civil society.

In his new book on the industry, Uranium Road, dr David Fig gives the verdict: "Careful recent attempts by the NNR to appear even-handed have been fatally destroyed by cabinet's approval of the appointment of Maurice Magugumela as head of the NNR. In doing so the former minister, Mlambo-Ngcuka, created a revolving door between industry and regulator, ruining any last vestige of the NNR's neutrality."

And according to Dawn Linder, who is the co-ordinator of the Environmental Desk of the Justice and Peace Department of the SA Catholic Bishops Conference: "The NNR has a responsibility to safeguard the South African public and the environment against all risks associated with local nuclear activity.  To do so effectively the NNR has to remain independent, unbiased and above reproach.   The appointment of the new NNR CEO - who has worked for the PBMR Company, and developed strategies and objectives on its behalf - can only contradict and compromise the NNR's responsibility and commitment to the public it serves and will adversely affect its credibility".