Just Access: The Real Transition is a 10-part podcast series from PARI (the Public Affairs Research Institute) exploring what a truly just transition means for South Africa — not only in energy policy, but in access to land, water, power, decision-making and economic opportunity.

Episode 1 begins with a fundamental question: what does justice actually look like in practice?

Tasneem Essop speaks with economist Dr Tracy Ledger, who leads PARI’s Just Transition Programme, about why millions of South Africans who are technically connected to electricity and water remain excluded in reality. In South Africa, basic services are constitutionally protected rights — yet rising tariffs, prepaid meters and revenue-driven municipal models mean that many households must sacrifice food and other essentials simply to keep the lights on.

This episode introduces the concept of “developmental access” — the minimum level of electricity and water required not just for survival, but for dignity, health and economic participation. Current free basic service allocations fall far below that threshold, and research shows that households living at or below the poverty line often cannot afford the difference without compromising nutrition.

If the Just Transition is about equity, then affordability is its most important measure. When services cost more than people can pay, inclusion on paper becomes exclusion in practice — and inequality deepens rather than declines.

Subscribe to follow the full series, and to learn more about PARI and their research, visit www.pari.org.za