How the Wild Coast was won — Community rights defeat corporate power
A Constitutional Court victory has allowed West Coast communities the right to determine what happens to the land and the ocean on which they so much depend.
On 14 August 2026, the Constitutional Court of South Africa delivered a landmark victory for the communities of the Wild Coast, affirming their right to determine what happens to the land and ocean upon which they depend. This decision effectively ends Shell and Impact Africa's attempts to pursue oil and gas exploration in the region, which had been met with years of resistance, protest, litigation, and community organizing.
The ruling recognizes that the ocean and community livelihoods cannot be treated as obstacles to corporate profit, marking a significant milestone in the fight for environmental justice in South Africa.
Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
