The matter is being heard in the Western Cape High Court until May 7.

The case challenges the legality of the government’s decision to grant environmental authorisation for offshore drilling, which the groups argue was rushed and procedurally flawed.

They claim the decision violated both constitutional rights and environmental obligations, particularly the right to a clean and healthy environment.

Speaking to Channel Africa, Liz McDaid, Strategic Lead at The Green Connection, said the decision-making process lacked transparency and failed to consider vital information.

“Every time you want to drill in the ocean, you have to consider the thousands of people who depend on it for their livelihoods. If there was an oil spill, the consequences would be devastating,” she explained.

One key concern, according to McDaid, is the absence of a publicly available oil spill response plan.

“The Minister made a decision without having all the necessary information, including the oil spill plan. That means the public never had a chance to comment on crucial mitigation measures.”

The case has also been complicated by Shell’s attempt to join the proceedings. Shell claims it is taking over operations from TotalEnergies, which is allegedly exiting the project. However, The Green Connection is opposing Shell’s inclusion, citing doubts over whether the exploration rights have expired and concerns about Shell’s preparedness to manage environmental risks.

“There is no clear documentation confirming Shell has the same capacity or safeguards in place,” said McDaid. “They were not even present in court today, and this will be debated further.”

--ChannelAfrica--