By Lee-Yandra Paulsen
Environmental justice organisation The Green Connection has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide clarity on reports that Israeli-owned Navitas Petroleum could become the operator of offshore oil and gas exploration Block 1 CBK in the Orange Basin off South Africa’s West Coast.
The organisation said the proposed transaction raises important questions about South Africa’s environmental commitments, governance processes, and foreign policy, particularly as the country continues to pursue its case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Green Connection’s Programme and Advocacy Lead, Lisa Makaula, said the organisation decided to write an open letter to the Presidency after reports emerged that Navitas Petroleum could acquire a 37.5% interest in the offshore block.
“We wrote an open letter to the Presidency, basically raising questions about our policy direction moving forward, given that South Africa has an ongoing case currently before the ICJ,” she said.
While some have questioned whether the government is being inconsistent by allowing an Israeli-owned company to operate in South Africa, Makaula said the organisation’s concerns extend beyond that issue.
“I would not necessarily put it that way,” she said. “The critical issue here is that the process has not been transparent. This proposed project would be happening behind the backs of communities, and decisions like this should involve the people who will be directly affected.”
Makaula added that affected communities deserve to know how the decision was reached and what the government’s policy position is regarding commercial engagement with Israeli-owned companies while the ICJ case is ongoing.
“At the end of the day, this is fundamentally a governance issue,” she said, adding that the organisation has yet to receive a response from the Presidency.
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