By Rachel Mohamed
Green Connection has welcomed the Western Cape High Court’s decision to overturn the government’s approval of TotalEnergies’ Block offshore drilling plans. This follows the 2023 exploration permission granted in Block 5/6/7, located between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas. The court ruled that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) was fundamentally flawed, failing to address critical risks.
Speaking to VOC News, Shahil Singh, Legal Advisor at Green Connection, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, calling it a victory for oceans and coastal communities.
“This decision is a significant victory for small-scale fishers and coastal communities, who rely on a healthy ocean to support their livelihoods. If there was an oil spill, it would be disastrous, and the problem is that they were not involved in the process, which impacts their lives. They should have been more involved because these waters have been linked to them for generations. The report has returned the matter to the minister and the department to reassess their decisions in light of more specific guidelines that require them to consider certain factors.”
Listen to the full interview:
VOC News
Photo: Pixabay
