Activists celebrate Concourt ruling against Wild Coast oil and gas exploration
Environmental activists have hailed a landmark Constitutional Court ruling that halts Shell’s controversial oil and gas exploration in South Africa’s Wild Coast, a decision that has sparked both celebration and concern among various stakeholders.
Environmental activists rejoiced at the Constitutional Court's ruling against Wild Coast oil and gas exploration by multinational company Shell. The landmark decision overturned a 2024 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that had allowed Shell to proceed with offshore seismic testing along the Eastern Cape coastline, despite the flawed exploration right they were using.
Desmond D’Sa, a coordinator from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), expressed great strength from the victory for the people of South Africa and hoped that Shell would reconsider its strategy and take the concerns of communities like Xolobeni in the Eastern Cape into account. D’Sa had been fighting Shell and other energy companies for years to prevent them from "exploring for profits" in the oceans.
He appealed to Shell shareholders to encourage the company to divest from fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy alternatives, and called for a just energy transition in South Africa. However, not everyone was pleased with the ruling. Mikateko Mahlaule, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources, raised concerns about the potential impact on investment and job creation in the petroleum sector.
He emphasized that the country cannot afford to let significant economic opportunities and job creation initiatives remain stuck in the conceptual stage due to uncertainty surrounding exploration. Exploring for resources is crucial for the economy and the people of South Africa, he cautioned.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
