Environment

“The amount of sewage and effluent spillages into canals and waterways across the country should be raising alarm bells everywhere, but because citizens have poor access to information and data, the country is – sometimes literally – swimming in a sea of polluted water,” says Dr. Ferrial Adam, environmental activist and manager of WaterCAN.Here in Gqeberha citizen activists have started a Facebook Page highlighting the water and sewage woes – look for TheSh!tIsReal on Facebook to take … [Read more...] about The state of SA’s water should be raising alarm bells

Yesterday, in Case No.: 3491/2021, judgement was handed down in the High Court of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Division in Makhanda. The matter was from an appeal against a case earlier this year decreeing that: The third, fourth and fifth respondents be and were interdicted from undertaking seismic survey operations under Exploration Right 12/3/252 pending the finalisation of Part B of the notice of motion. Granting the Costs Order Mbenenge ordered the first and fifth respondents to pay the … [Read more...] about Will Shell and the Government take Seismic Blasting Case to the SCA?

On 1 April 2022, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) released the Green Drop Report, after a nine-year break since the last report. The Green Drop report is important as it evaluates the entire wastewater management system (sewer collector , pumping, treatment, discharge) of processing the wastewater over a one-year audit period. It provided a snapshot of sanitation services in the country.“While we welcome this release, it is concerning that only 23 wastewater systems qualified for … [Read more...] about It’s time for municipal managers responsible for failed systems to face criminal charges

An urgent application for an interdict to halt the seismic survey was heard in the Cape High Court on Monday morning.In another blow to organised fossil fuel exploration the Judge ordered the respondents to stop seismic survey blasting until the interim interdict takes place on 7 March 2022. Thirteen applicants from small-scale fishing communities filed an urgent interdict against Searcher Geodata’s ongoing surveying. The applicants have filed on the basis that no meaningful consultation was … [Read more...] about Victory for the Little Guys in Court Proceedings against Searcher Seismic Survey in Western Cape

The Grahamstown High Court in Makhanda delivered judgement today after an urgent interdict against Shell’s seismic survey along South Africa’s Wild Coast was brought by The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and Richard Spoor Attorneys – supported by Cullinan & Associates and Natural Justice on behalf of the Amadiba, Cwebe, Hobeni, Port Saint Johns and Kei Mouth communities on 17 December 2021. In the result, it is ordered that: The third, fourth and fifth respondents be and are hereby interdicted … [Read more...] about Historic Win for Wild Coast Community v Shell and Minister

In the high Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape, Makanda a historic win took place when the applicants won an urgent interdict to stop the present Seismic Survey taking place on the Wild Coast via the Amazon Warrior on behalf of Shell. The judgement is monumental and has international repercussions for Seismic Surveys taking place across the world. Direct YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St2Z_aD9g18 Download and read the full judgement PDF HERE: … [Read more...] about Sustaining the Wild Coast and Other Applicants react to winning ‘Shell’ Judgement

Today – Tuesday 28 December, the Grahamstown High Court in Makhanda will deliver judgement after an urgent interdict against Shell’s seismic survey along South Africa’s Wild Coast was brought by The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and Richard Spoor Attorneys – supported by Cullinan & Associates and Natural Justice on behalf of the Amadiba, Cwebe, Hobeni, Port Saint Johns and Kei Mouth communities on 17 December 2021. Go On - Share the Gqeberha Love! Reader InteractionsGqeberha's Latest … [Read more...] about Live: Judgement Amadiba and Others v Shell Seismic Survey on Wild Coast

The number of South Africans celebrating that yesterday the Grahamstown High Court in Makhanda ordered Shell to immediately cease its seismic blasting along South Africa’s Wild Coast is immense – the number of shares, comments and reposts of numerous articles continues apace.Yesterday Shell and the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy were ordered to pay the costs of the application for the interim interdict AND the Judge went so far as to allow for the costs of a THIRD Advocate to be … [Read more...] about Wild Coast Victory Celebrations Continue as Shell Contemplates R1.35 Billion Headache

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy has accepted a set of recommendations by the Consultative Advisory Forum (CAF) appointed to advise on the West Coast Rock Lobster fishery.In a statement on Monday, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said the necessary regulatory processes will be followed to give expression to this decision. The report has recommended that the West Coast Rock Lobster Total Allowable Catch (TAC) be increased for the 2021/22 … [Read more...] about West Coast Rock Lobster fishery recommendations accepted

Many South Africans are advocating a boycott of Shell petrol stations countrywide in response to Shell’s commissioning of unwanted Seismic Surveys along our East Coast.The first reaction to this proposal is from affected Shell dealers who are telling people to please not target the small business owners and their staff. Whilst any right thinking person will have sympathy with that sentiment another side of the coin does exist: Shell has not covered themselves in glory for the past few decades … [Read more...] about Shell Hell – Let’s Talk about the Little Guy

The South African public are vocal and not backing down even after losing the first round interdict against Shell and others. More than 60 protests took place countrywide in South Africa on Sunday, 5 December 2021, against the oil giant. Another interdict is scheduled for 14 December 2021 as the Amazon Warrior continues with their Seismic Survey off of the Wild Coast today.WESSA and ABOS spokeperson, Gary Koekemoer, explains the position in the video below: See the Judgement being handed down … [Read more...] about Seismic Survey Protests Gain Momentum

Four environmental and human rights organisations filed an urgent interdict to stop Shell from carrying out its ocean seismic survey, while Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has supported it.This is the ‘edited’ live stream of the urgent interdict direct from the Makanda High Court on Wednesday 1 December 2021. The actual live stream had 6 991 Playbacks during the 3 hours and 28 minutes that it was live with a total watch time of 1 221 hours, 35.29 minutes. With the Amazon Warrior survey ship … [Read more...] about Live: Border Deep Sea Angling Association & Others v Minister of Mineral Resources Energy & Others #3865/2021

A seismic survey is akin to having an alien ship hovering over your home and fighting an intergalactic war whilst playing heavy metal. Would that drive you mad? At the very least it will drive marine fish and mammals reliant on accoustic sound far away from the source and may even have the potential to spark off red tide occurrences.French multinational CGG has applied to explore the area from Gqeberha to Plettenberg Bay and, according to its proposal document, it will use the same method of … [Read more...] about THAT Seismic Survey will also take place in Algoa Bay