Western Cape High Court halts offshore drilling in landmark environmental ruling
Image: Supplied
The Western Cape High Court has halted offshore drilling in the South-West Coast known as Block 5/6/7, setting aside the environmental authorisation granted to TotalEnergies EP South Africa (Teepsa), which intended to transfer it to Shell.
It is a landmark and victory for The Green Connection and Natural Justice, which found serious flaws in the environmental impact assessment (EIA).
The matter under review was between The Green Connection and Natural Justice as applicants and the respondents being: Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Director General: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, TotalEnergies EP South Africa block 567 (PTY) LTD, Shell Exploration & Production South Africa.
On Wednesday, Judge Mangcu-Lockwood's judgment called for the Department of Minerals and Petroleum to conduct fresh assessments, gather more information, and facilitate public participation.
This means that the South African government's approval of TotalEnergies EP South Africa's environmental authorisation to drill for oil and gas in offshore areas known as Block 5/6/7 along the South-West Coast has been set aside after it was challenged by the Green Connection and Natural Justice.
Together they argued that the approvals were given without properly considering the risks to the environment, people's livelihoods, and South Africa's climate commitments.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
According to court papers, the review application concerns the granting of an environmental authorization ('the EA') to Total in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 ('NEMA'), for the purpose of conducting exploration drilling to determine whether geological structures contain oil or gas - fossil fuels - in potentially extractable amounts.
Mangcu-Lockwood ordered that the decision made by the Director General: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on April 17 2023, granting environmental authorization to the fourth respondent (TotalEnergies EP) for exploratory operations in Block 5/6/7, is reviewed and set aside.
It further stated that the fourth respondent must be given the opportunity to submit new or amended assessments, as deemed necessary, to address the deficiencies identified in the review including that a public participation process.
Shahil Singh, Legal Advisor to The Green Connection, said the court found the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) failed to fully examine the consequences of a major oil spill on local and neighbouring coastal communities.
'Total and Shell will now need to undertake additional studies, make these plans publicly available, and properly assess both coastal and cross-border risks before any decision is taken,' said Singh.
The Green Connection's Strategic Lead, Liziwe McDaid said in response to the order: 'Our country's laws demand full, open, and honest assessment, not partial studies, not secrecy, and not ignoring inconvenient truths.
Natural Justice, Defending Rights Programme Manager, Melissa Groenink-Groves added: 'This judgment is a victory in the growing opposition to oil and gas exploration in our country. Recently, a number of oil and gas projects have been given Environmental Authorisation, but this judgment again confirms that companies must follow due process, undertake comprehensive assessments and provide communities with an opportunity to have their voices heard, in respect of all relevant information. It confirms that our fight for our environmental rights is strong, and that we must continue for the future for our children. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
Cape Argus
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
The Le Roux Question: Millions shape media, courts, democracy?
The Millennium Trust funds initiatives in media, law, civil society, and politics across South Africa, supporting organisations such as Daily Maverick, amaBhungane, CASAC, Freedom Under Law, and Judges Matter. | These grantees are said to operate with full editorial and organisational independence, but the Trust's influence is said to be exercised indirectly through advocacy, investigative work, and legal reform efforts, rather than through direct control. | The Trust provides financial support to the Democratic Alliance Image: Sizwe Dlamini ECONOMIST Dr Séan Mfundza Muller has issued a stark warning about the growing power of South Africa's ultra-wealthy, spotlighting Michiel le Roux, co-founder of Capitec Bank, and his alleged behind-the-scenes influence on media, politics, and civil society through strategic funding, raising questions about accountability, transparency, and the integrity of democratic institutions. Speaking on Ntsiki Mazwai's Moya podcast, Muller said: 'Another South African billionaire, who I think is very interesting, is Michiel le Roux, who is one of the people behind Capitec. Now, as far as I know — and I heard this both from a private source and then I also came across a public source of this information — Le Roux is behind a trust called the Millennium Trust.' Muller explained that, according to his research and private discussions, the Millennium Trust, which was founded around 2010, supports a 'constellation of powerful voices in civil society', noting: 'The Millennium Trust funds the Daily Maverick, amaBungane, the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac), Freedom Under Law, as far as I know … and I'm going from memory here.' He further said that the trust operated with a certain degree of opacity: 'But so you've got all these civil society organisations, all these media outlets being funded by this … trust. I mean, I've gone to look at the directors. You would never guess from the directors of this trust. You would not be able to find out who's behind it.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Muller described how he discovered the connection: 'I only found out because I stumbled across something online and because somebody who had direct knowledge … told me privately that Le Roux is behind this.' When reached for comments, the Millennium Trust said they would get the appropriate person to respond to questions from the Sunday Independent, but had not got back to us by the time of compiling this report. Attempts to get comments from Le Roux drew a blank. Regarding potential implications, Muller raised concerns about editorial independence and transparency, saying: 'While these funds support critical journalistic and civic activities, concerns persist about their impact on editorial independence. Newsrooms such as the Daily Maverick and amaBhungane maintain that funding does not dictate editorial control, yet the exact terms and amounts often lack full public disclosure, raising questions about transparency in media financing.' He also spoke about Le Roux's financial support to South Africa's main opposition party, the DA: 'Michiel le Roux funds the DA … so he also funds their court cases. He funds the civil society organisations that apply to the court to be friends of the court in court cases. And he funds the media houses that report on all of that.' Muller posed a rhetorical question on the ramifications for public understanding: 'Okay, now, how do you think as an ordinary person, you're going to be able to get accurate information on, for example, who's corrupt and who's not, who's good and who's bad?' He noted that Le Roux's donations reportedly exceeded R50 million between 2021 and 2023 through private companies such as Fynbos Ekwiteit and Fynbos Kapitaal, making him among the largest disclosed donors to the DA within that timeframe. Muller also commented on broader patterns of philanthropic influence: 'This is just one billionaire. When they control three, right, and those are just the ones we know about, right, that's not even like particularly covert. As soon as you know who's funding the trust, you can figure that out loud, right? There's a whole lot of other stuff that we know less about, what we have to find out about through private sources … like who's funding Rivonia Circle … which is another thing which I've raised over the last couple of years.' Reflecting on new civic movements and political projects, Muller observed: 'Rivonia Circle was really the platform that Songezo Zibi used to start Rise Mzansi, which eventually we discovered was funded by the Oppenheimers.'
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Top marketing campaigns compete for the Effie Awards
Effie Awards South Africa has announced the 44 finalists for the 2025 awards programme, following the first round of judging. These finalists represent marketing campaigns that have proven their effectiveness in achieving their stated objectives. The awards celebrate work that combines creativity with measurable impact, emphasising the high standards within South Africa's marketing industry, according to thier website. Refilwe Maluleke, Jury Co-Chair and Executive Head of Marketing at Discovery Health, said, 'The standard of entries this year has been exceptional. The most effective work begins with clear objectives, strong strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the business challenge. Our role as a jury is to apply rigorous evaluation to ensure every finalist has proven, beyond doubt, the impact of their work.' Her comments highlight the integrity and seriousness of the judging process. The finalists come from a broad spectrum of the communications sector, including large networks, independent agencies, media specialists, PR firms, and even direct client entries. This diversity showcases the rich talent and innovation driving marketing effectiveness across South Africa. The 44 finalists now enter the next stage of judging, where winners of Bronze, Silver, and Gold Effies will be selected. The very best among them will be considered for the prestigious Grand Effie, awarded only to campaigns demonstrating exceptional, sustained impact. Jury Co-Chair Ahmed Tilly added, 'Creativity is at the heart of effectiveness. The work that rises to the top shows us how a powerful idea, rooted in insight, can drive significant and measurable results.' The impressive list of finalists includes campaigns by Ogilvy, Joe Public, TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, M+C Saatchi Abel, and others. They all span numerous categories like automotive, beverages, healthcare, finance, and social good. The awards gala, where winners will be revealed, is scheduled for 21 October. Gillian Rightford, Executive Director of the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), congratulated the finalists. 'Achieving finalist status is, in itself, a mark of excellence. It means your work has met the highest global standards for marketing effectiveness.' The 2025 Effie Awards South Africa continues to grow as a benchmark for marketing success in the country. It encourages marketers to prove that their creative ideas deliver real business results. Major sponsors including Nedbank, SAB, Unilever, GIB Insurance, and Investec proudly support the programme. For South African marketers, the Effies remain the ultimate platform to demonstrate and celebrate campaigns that truly work. With entries hitting record numbers, the industry's commitment to marketing that delivers impact has never been clearer. HOW DO YOU DEFINE EFFECTIVE MARKETING IN TODAY'S SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
'Newzroom Afrika' revamps line-up with key appointments
Newzroom Afrika, one of South Africa's leading news channels, has announced a significant reshuffle in its programming. The broadcaster aims to keep pace with evolving viewer preferences and sharpen its focus on quality journalism. At the heart of this shake-up is the appointment of political veteran Vuyo Mvoko as Political Economy Editor, according to Biz Community Mvoko brings an impressive wealth of experience and insight into South African politics. He is known for his incisive interview style and deep understanding of economic issues, and he will lead the channel's political economy coverage with renewed vigour. Starting immediately, Mvoko will anchor Newsfeed PM from 15:00 to 17:00, Monday to Thursday. Thabo Mdluli will take over the same slot from Friday to Sunday. This change aims to bring fresh perspectives to the channel's afternoon news coverage. The Newzroom Afrika channel also refreshed its AM programming. Iman Rappetti, Arabile Gumede, and Vaylen Kirtley will now anchor the AM Report. Zulaikha Patel will contribute a new segment, further diversifying the morning content. Michelle Craig will present Newsfeed AM from 09:00 to 12:00. Stephen Grootes and Katlego Msomi will co-anchor Daytime Update from noon to 15:00 on alternating days. The channel designed this to maintain vibrancy and freshness in the mid-day news offering. Mapi Mhlangu, Editor-In-Chief of Newzroom Afrika, commented on the changes. 'These adjustments are made to refresh our programming using local talent. Our viewers remain at the centre of everything we do. We are excited about our growth plans this coming year.' This reshuffle demonstrates Newzroom Afrika's commitment to South Africa's dynamic media landscape. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
