A consistent presence at the AEW since inception, Minister Gwede Mantashe is lauded as a statesman who is capable of bridging domestic needs with continental solidarity
From a small village in the former Transkei to the highest corridors of South African power, Gwede Mantashe’s journey reads like the story of a man who refused to be confined by his beginnings. His path has never been straight, never entirely without controversy, but always deeply rooted in the country’s struggles and ambitions.
What makes his story compelling is not just the offices he has held, but the way he has become the face of South Africa’s most urgent challenge: how to keep the lights on, keep people employed, and still honor the global call for a cleaner future.
Born on 21 June 1955 in Lower Cala, Eastern Cape, Mantashe grew up in a time when apartheid curtailed opportunities for many black South Africans. Yet his early involvement in the Student Christian Movement shaped a leadership style steeped in both activism and moral conviction.
That foundation was honed in the trenches of the trade union movement, especially within the National Union of Mineworkers, where Mantashe mastered the tough art of negotiation and advocacy. Long before ministerial titles and global forums, he earned a reputation as someone unafraid to challenge entrenched interests and speak truth to power.
His academic journey mirrored this determination for growth. From a Bachelor of Commerce and Honours at the University of South Africa, to a Master’s at Wits, and now an MBA at MANCOSA, Mantashe has consistently combined formal learning with hands-on experience, embodying the principle of lifelong development.
Minister Gwede Mantashe here in conversation with NJ Ayuk of the AEC, has earned credit for his steadfast commitment to a just energy transition
This blend of theory and experience has made him a minister who straddles technocracy and politics. He scrutinizes numbers, balance sheets, and policies with precision, yet never loses sight of the miners, workers, and communities whose daily lives hinge on every energy and mining decision.
When he took office as Minister of Mineral Resources in 2018, the sector was reeling from low commodity prices and faltering investor confidence. His challenge was immediate and stark: restore trust, attract investment, and ensure mining communities were not left behind in poverty.
His review of the Mining Charter, which strengthened BEE participation and community benefits, reflected a core belief: mining must serve the broader population, not just shareholders. While critics warned of investor pushback, Mantashe’s message was simple and firm—South Africa’s resources are for its people, and companies have responsibilities beyond profit.
The 2019 merger of Mineral and Energy Resources expanded his remit, placing the nation’s chronic blackouts squarely under his watch. Amid Eskom’s debt crises and operational struggles, he faced the delicate task of keeping the lights on while navigating a low-carbon transition. He framed the dilemma plainly: “We cannot kill the economy to preserve ecology,” a phrase resonating deeply with many Africans who saw global climate policy as inequitable.
Mantashe’s global interventions reflect this perspective. At the 2025 Africa CEO Forum, he highlighted the double standard of carbon accountability, where Africa bears costs that major emitters like the US, China, and Russia avoid. His advocacy emphasizes fairness and the right of African economies to grow without being constrained by external pressures—a message that earns both admiration and criticism.
Yet action accompanies his words. The 2019 Integrated Resource Plan set ambitious renewable targets while maintaining coal and incorporating natural gas as a transitional fuel. The 2025 Gas Master Plan further strengthened resilience, aiming for 5 billion cubic meters of gas to support industry and power generation, ensuring homes remain lit and factories operational even when coal falters.
His commitment to a just energy transition has been steadfast. At African Energy Week 2023, he stressed that Africa cannot abandon fossil fuels too quickly, pointing to the 600 million Africans still without electricity and the economic fallout from abrupt coal closures. Justice, for Mantashe, means retraining workers, supporting mining towns, and giving countries room to grow without forcing immediate sacrifice.
With international investors eyeing South Africa’s offshore prospects, Mantashe has pushed reform through the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill
In mining, Mantashe engineered a cautious revival. Exploration licenses expanded, and some BEE thresholds were eased to unlock marginal projects, resulting in R13 billion in new investment in 2024. He credits policy clarity and faster approvals, though his ties to the industry invite scrutiny. For a man forged in the NUM, criticism is expected, yet he maintains that transparency and community benefit remain non-negotiable pillars, even as activists watch for tangible results in struggling towns.
Oil and gas have become another defining focus. With international investors eyeing South Africa’s offshore prospects, Mantashe has pushed reform through the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill, proposing a new regulator, flexible royalties, and stronger local content rules to balance investment attraction with public benefit.
Opposition has been strong, with environmental groups warning of ecosystem risks. Once again, Mantashe stands at the intersection of growth and environmental stewardship, navigating a role that demands pragmatism, foresight, and an intimate understanding of the communities he serves.
Controversy is never far behind. Greenpeace South Africa has accused him of clinging to coal and delaying renewables, painting him as out of step with Paris Agreement goals. His counterargument is simple: South Africa cannot dismantle coal, which still provides 70% of its electricity, without devastating livelihoods. He emphasizes retraining, social support, and gradual transition. This pragmatism—seen by some as stubbornness—illustrates his refusal to embrace easy slogans when people’s jobs are at stake.
Eskom’s crisis has also been a test of his resilience. Overseeing its R254 billion bailout and maintenance reforms in 2023, Mantashe played a central role in efforts to reduce breakdowns. While load-shedding has not disappeared, officials reported a 20% decrease in unplanned outages by late 2024. For many South Africans, the improvement may feel modest, but for a country accustomed to darkness at dinnertime, even a small reprieve brings relief.
Beyond South Africa’s borders, Mantashe has become a prominent African voice. As South Africa hosted the G20 presidency in 2023, he elevated energy poverty and just transition debates onto the global stage. At COP28, his call for technology transfer and tailored climate finance resonated strongly with developing economies.
For the African Energy Chamber, he is lauded as a statesman who could bridge domestic needs with continental solidarity. His ability to translate local struggles into global arguments has cemented his place as more than just a national minister—he is a continental energy strategist.
Still, the road ahead is fraught. South Africa must meet climate targets while solar and battery technologies become cheaper and coal increasingly uneconomic. The Electricity Amendment Bill, with its emphasis on renewable bidding windows, reflects this shift.
Nonetheless Mantashe continues to caution against hasty coal retirements, warning of deeper economic malaise if dispatchable power is not secured. His voice carries the weight of decades in mining towns, where livelihoods are fragile and futures uncertain.
As he looks toward the future, Mantashe’s legacy will likely be measured by how successfully he balances three competing imperatives: keeping South Africa’s grid stable, ensuring communities are not abandoned, and aligning the country with global climate commitments. It is a delicate act that demands both political will and human sensitivity. If South Africa manages to emerge with a stronger energy mix, reduced poverty, and a credible climate pathway, Mantashe will be remembered as the man who held the line through turbulence.
What makes his story resonate is not only his policies but his lived authenticity. From Lower Cala to Pretoria, he has carried with him the memories of miners, the frustrations of blackouts, and the aspirations of a continent striving for dignity.
In every speech, whether defiant or conciliatory, there is the unmistakable voice of a man shaped by both struggle and opportunity. For South Africa, Gwede Mantashe is not just a minister—he is the gatekeeper of its most vital commodity: energy, and the steward of its hopes for a fairer tomorrow.
