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In a pivotal development in the fight for environmental justice, Shell and the South African Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources have applied for leave to appeal the recent judgment of Judge Mangcu-Lockwood of the Western Cape High Court, which found the environmental authorisation for offshore oil and gas exploration in Block 5/6/7, to be unlawful.
The case was initially filed by The Green Connection and Natural Justice, in a bid to defend the rights of coastal communities to sustain their ocean-dependent livelihoods, protect their food security and shield them from the deepening impacts of climate change.
Following an online hearing on October 16, 2025, Strategic Lead at The Green Connection, Liz McDaid, says: “This appeal attempt is disappointing but not surprising. It is clear that the oil and gas giants, together with government, are determined to push ahead despite the court’s recognition of serious environmental and procedural shortcomings. We will continue to stand firm for the rights of coastal communities and the protection of our oceans because the High Court’s ruling correctly highlighted serious procedural and environmental flaws in the approval process for Block 5/6/7.”
The Green Connection’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Neville van Rooy, adds: “For the people living along our coasts, this could be a serious development because thousands of coastal families who depend on small-scale fishing for their livelihoods may face immediate and long-term harm if the project proceeds. Any offshore drilling accident, including a “well blowout”, could devastate marine life and fisheries along South Africa’s west coast, with oil potentially drifting into Namibian waters via the Benguela Current. These are just some of the reasons why we keep raising our voices – loudly and clearly – to ensure that these risks are not brushed aside.”
The Green Connection says that this case may be part of a broader pattern in which fossil fuel companies and government authorities appear to repeatedly sidestep environmental safeguards, making court rulings, such as this one, a crucial defence for both people and the planet.
“Beyond the potential local impacts, we cannot ignore that production from this block could directly increase greenhouse gas emissions, possibly accelerating climate change. Climate change impacts could have a ripple effect on small-scale fisheries and the overall wellbeing of coastal communities,” adds van Rooy.
The Green Connection and Natural Justice now await judgment on whether the appeal can proceed and, if so, whether it will be heard by a Full Bench of the Western Cape High Court or the Supreme Court of Appeal.
