South Africa: On Saturday, 9 December, people across the country will unite in local actions against oil and gas drilling off the South African coastlines. Multinational corporations, including Shell, Qatar, Total Energies and contractors such as CGG and Searcher, are amongst the focal points of the latest round of public outrage.
Recent authorisations which have catalysed action are the:
- Recent authorisation by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for UK-based CGG to conduct a speculative 3D seismic survey in the Algoa/Outeniqua Basin off the Southeast Coast of South Africa (appeals open to DFFE before 13th December 2023)
- Recent decision by the Minister of DFFE to reject an environmental appeal off the West Coast, meaning seismic surveys by Searcher are planned to start after 1 January 2024 unless it is taken to court.
- Recent decision by the Minister of DFFE to reject the environmental appeal against oil and gas exploration in blocks 567 (from Gansbaai on the South Coast to Doring Baai on the West Coast). Which means Total Energies can start drilling anytime from now unless it is taken to court.
Authorisation Amid Controversy:
The local actions are taking place on the same day as the global day for climate justice in line with COP28 in which the global climate justice movement is coming together to continue to advocate for a fast and fair phase out of fossil fuels. The international conference which is meant to be a place for making equitable progress on climate change and energy transitions, has been steeped in controversy and disappointment while the COP28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, has been accused of abusing his position to try to sign oil deals.
Communities, environmental activists, civil society organisations, and legal experts have expressed concern over the lack of public consultation and proper processes being followed around the exploration authorisations. Of particular concern is the impact that these surveys will have on the livelihoods of small scale fishing communities and those in the tourism sector, marine life such as turtles, fish, whales and plankton, as well as local coastal economies which are founded on healthy marine environments.
Contradiction with International Recommendations
The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports have underscored the need for urgent action to reduce fossil fuel use over the next 20 years and have stated that no oil, gas or coal projects can come online if we are to limit catastrophic global warming and climate change. South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission’s (PCC) electricity recommendations have also aligned with the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy swiftly and justly.
Call to Action:
As fishing communities, civil society, environmentalists, and concerned people unite nationwide on December 9 to voice opposition to the potentially devastating consequences of these proposed oil and gas activities, they are calling on people to join them in actions against oil and gas exploration off the South African coast.
Some of the groups and organisations organising actions include: Plettenberg Bay Community Environment Forum, Green Connection, Oceans Not Oil, Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace Africa, Save the Wild Coast, African Climate Alliance, Eastern Cape Environmental Network, Masifundise, Coastal Links South Africa, Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative, Nature’s Valley Trust, Tsitsikamma Fishers Forum, WESSA Algoa Bay & Eden Branches, 7784 Performers Youth Development, Robberg Coastal Corridor Protected Environment, The Green Net, Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement, Project 90 by 2030, Sustaining the Wild Coast NPC, SAFC – South African Fishers Collective, One Ocean Hub, CJN – Climate Justice Network, SAFCEI – Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, Fossil Free SA
List Of Protest Actions On 9 December 2023 Include:
Location | Further Info and Contact
- Cape Town Muizenberg Beach | 10:00-12:00 – African Climate Alliance & Project 90×2023 Gabriel 079 306 8871; Isabelle Joubert EXR 082 387 9016; Stephen Maciko Right To Know 078 425 3215; Lydia Peterson SAFCEI 061 3489 941; Sarah Robyn Farrell Fossil Free SA & African Climate African – 083 409 5557 and Maria Welcome, Green Connection – 082 936 9199
- Plettenberg Bay | Info stand at Ocean Awareness Day, Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay 9:00-16:00, Group photo at 13:00 – Julie Carlisle – CGG appeal process – 082 322 2209
- Mtwalume | Mfazazane beach, Mtwalume, KZN – 10:00-12:00; Bangiswa – 0780 580 422 Mnafu fishing co-operative
- Knysna | Meet opposite Shell Garage, 44 Main Rd, Knysna 12:00-14:00 – Julie and Barend Julie: 065 562 1850 Barend 061 723 7302
- Chintsa East, Eastern Cape | Main Beach 10:30 – Lisa Cloete 084 067 7149
- Sedgefield | Wild Oats side of the Sedgefield Market – in front of entrance – 7:30 – 11:15; Nikki Jackman Joy 083 700 7947
- Mtunzini | Main beach 9:00 – Contact: Claire Campbell 0727178806
- Saldanha | Pepper Bay Harbour 10:00-12:00 – Carmelita Mostert 084 756 2203; Carmen Aboriginal 072 551 2182; Hilda SA Fisher’s collective 063 691 9112; Wendy Pekeur Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement 060 624 3215
- Langebaan & St Helena Bay | Pepper Bay Harbour – Solene Smith 071 774 8838 Coastal Links; Cilla Small-scale fisher 073 994 8156
- Durban | Suncoast Beach to Ushaka Beach – Meet at 9:00; Desiree – 065 850 2722
- Port St Johns | Mngazi Beach 10:00-13:00 – Ntsindiso Nongcavu – 072 073 6228 Eastern Cape Coastal Links
- Gqeberha | New Brighton Beach 9:00-11:00 – Gary Koekemoer 071 610 2884; Kevin Taylor WESSA – 079 494 1092; Irna Centre for Integrated Post School Education and Training – 083 951 6119; Zukisa ECEN – 072 202 5098
- Cape St Francis | Cape St Francis Beach 9:00-11:00 – Juliette – 083 656 4319
- Joburg/Pretoria | Banners on bridges – Uncial Haupt 082 497 3712
- Port Alfred – Jo Styles 0844074067
- Paternoster | Meet outside die winkel op paternoster 10:00-11:00
- Port Nolloth | 10:00 – 12:00 pm; Walter Steenkamp 084 087 5199
- Port Alfred | Kowie Small Scale Fishers Co-op and Marselle Small Scale Fishers Co-op Port Alfred, 10am – Taryn Pereira 0822936380 / Volenta Marais 0612578964
- Kenton-on-Sea | Kenton, Middle Beach Moeg Gesukkel Small Scale Fishers Co-op 10 am – Melisa Pullen 0833938670 / Taryn Pereira 0822936380
- Hamburg | Siyaphambili SSF co-op and Siyazama co-op 10am – Ayanda Yekani 0781525982 / Taryn Pereira 0822936380
Video: List of Upcoming Nationwide Protest Actions Against Oil and Gas Drilling Off South African Coastline
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