#036 Radio Workshop Crossover: Just Enough Light

In this special crossover episode, Just Us and the Climate partners with Radio Workshop to bring you Just Enough Light — a story about community, resilience, and the uneven path toward South Africa’s energy transition.

Before we dive into the story, host Shaazia Ebrahim speaks with Siya Mokoena, one of the reporters behind the episode. Siya shares how he got involved with Radio Workshop, what it was like to document life in Nomzamo, and the insights that emerged while telling this powerful story about hope, disappointment, and energy justice.

Then, we head to Nomzamo, Mpumalanga, a community that has never had electricity, despite being surrounded by coal mines and power stations. For the past year, Siphesihle Magagula has been going door-to-door selling solar power, bringing light to nearly 400 homes. But as more lights switch on, new challenges appear. Many residents find that their solar kits can’t power fridges or TVs. What does this reveal about South Africa’s “just transition”? And will renewable energy bring true justice to the 1.6 million households still living off the grid?

Just Enough Light is part of Power to Change, Radio Workshop’s award-winning series exploring South Africa’s transition from coal to renewable energy through the lives of young people in coal communities.

To hear more, listen to This Coal Life, an earlier story in the series.

Reported by Siya Mokoena and Dhashen Moodley. This Coal Life · To use episodes on your show, refer to Radio Workshop's toolkit · To host your own listening event, check out this guide · Website · Facebook · Instagram