The Oceans Not Oil movement erupted in joy this morning hearing of Justice Bloem’s pronouncement on the urgent interdict brought by Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC), together with the Dwesa-Cwebe Communal Property Association, fishermen – Ntsindiso Nongcavu (Port St Johns), Sazise Maxwell Pekayo and Cameron Thorpe (Kei Mouth) – Amadiba traditional leader and healer Mashona Wetu Dlamini and All Rise Attorneys for Climate and Environmental Justice to stop Shell’s seismic survey which began its thunderous plunder on the 2 December. Bloem ordered the survey stopped pending the outcome of a review process.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and oil major Shell have been ordered to pay the legal costs of the application.
This is a seminal moment for the ONO movement and a testament to expert legal argument delivered with the passion of the conviction of science behind it by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC for SWC and others; a testament to indigenous people potentially most affected by the impunity of Shell standing their ground to protect their heritage; a testament to South African law and a testament to the power of hundreds and thousands of concerned South Africans who love our sea and Wild Coast making their voices heard.
Please remember to submit your comments (by the end of January 2022) to the Gas Master Plan which is the overarching strategy to bring riches to the few and pollution to the ocean, fence line communities and future generations.
For more info: https://oceansnotoil.org/
