What is a NNR public hearing?
A public hearing is a tool for the NNR Board to gain further input and insights from members of public on issues relating to health, safety and environment in relation to a nuclear installation licence application. It supplements other well-established internal safety review methods of the NNR.

Who decides to hold a public hearing?
The NNR Board decides on holding a public hearing in accordance with section 21 of the National Nuclear Regulator Act, Act No.47 of 1999.

Who can attend a public hearing?
Anyone can attend a public hearing. Individuals, citizen groups, private businesses, governmental bodies or any other person who may be directly affected by the granting of a nuclear installation licence may register to make representations at the public hearing.
Those aged under 18 years who bring personal experience or knowledge about the subject of the hearing may attend, but they must come with their guardian. Children aged under 12 years are not allowed to attend the public hearing.
Companies and vendors with an interest in the subject can also apply to attend, and journalists covering the hearing may attend as observers.

How can I join a public hearing?
You can attend a public hearing as a speaker or as an observer. You can also follow it on a live video broadcast on the NNR website when available.
You must fill in an online application form if you wish to attend in person. The form will ask if you wish to attend as an observer or as a speaker. Those invited to speak will be given time for a short oral presentation at the hearing.
You don’t need to apply to us if you intend to watch the video broadcast. The link will be available on the NNR website on the day.

How do I apply to attend?
To attend a public hearing, you need to apply on the NNR website. We will include a link to the application form in the public notice about the hearing. Be sure to apply before the deadline shown in the hearing announcement.

How will NNR choose who attends?
The number of people that can attend the hearing is limited by how many people the room can seat and the time available for the hearing. Therefore, we may need to select participants based on their connection to the subject of the hearing, their experience and where they live.
We may also need to limit attendance of observers from each organisation or group so that the hearing includes the widest range of participants.
The sooner observers apply the more chance they have of being selected to attend.

How will I know if I can attend?
We will write to you soon after the application deadline to let you know whether or not you can attend. We will also tell you if you will be attending as an observer or as a speaker.

What other information should I give if I wish to attend as a speaker?
We will write to you soon after the application deadline to let you know whether or not you can attend. We will also tell you if you will be attending as an observer or as a speaker.

How will NNR chose speakers?
We will choose speakers based on the information in the application and give priority to those submissions with a strong emphasis on issues relating to health, safety and environment connected with the application under consideration.

What if I have not been chosen to speak?
We will choose speakers based on the information in the application and give priority to those submissions with a strong emphasis on issues relating to health, safety and environment connected with the application under consideration.

Where can I find the hearing agenda and list of speakers?
We will publish the agenda for the hearing and a list of confirmed speakers on the NNR website, together with the time given to each speaker, in advance of the hearing.

How will the hearing run?
The panel Chairperson will chair the hearing. The Chairperson will begin the hearing with opening remarks.
The Chairperson will then invite presentations from registered speakers. Each speaker will speak from the podium into a microphone. The speakers should briefly introduce themselves and state if they are representing any organisation or group.
Speakers should keep to the time they have been given. If the time given to the speaker is about to end and the speaker has not started concluding the presentation, the Chairperson will decide if the speaker must end the presentation with final remarks or continue with the presentation. If the speaker does not end the presentation after being asked to do so, we may turn off the speaker’s microphone. The Chairperson may also interrupt the speaker if the speaker deviates from the subject of the hearing.

Can observers speak at the hearing?
Observers should not speak during a public hearing. However, if there is time at the end of a hearing, the Chairperson may invite anyone in the room to speak briefly on the subject of the hearing and on issues relating to health, safety and environment connected with the application.

Can the hearing be cancelled or postponed?
The NNR may have to postpone or cancel a scheduled public hearing in case of unexpected circumstances or due to public health and safety concerns emanating from a pandemic.
Should the external environment not be conducive for holding in-person public hearings, the NNR may decide to hold virtual public hearings.

How will the NNR handle personal information?
The NNR shall take all reasonable measures to protect the personal information of users and for the purpose of this disclaimer “personal information” shall be defined as detailed in the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000 (“PAIA”) and the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act 4 of 2013 (“POPI”).

What record will be available of the public hearing?
A recording of the hearing, the list of all speakers, including their presentations, and any declared interests as well as a summary of the conclusions of the hearing will be published on NNR website.