Organisations gather to defend oil and gas exploration in oceans

TO keep the momentum and pressure on Shell, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), hosted a two-day conference at the Austerville Community Hall on Wednesday, February 2 and Thursday, February 3.

More than 26 environmental organisations got together with activists, ocean lovers, researchers, legal advisers, and fishermen.

Attendees came from as far as Port Nolloth on the West Coast of South Africa and Hluhluwe on the East Coast of the country, in solidarity against oil and gas exploration.

SDCEA’s project officer, Cassandra Schnoor, said although Shell was interdicted from conducting seismic operations in December 2021, the war was far from over. “This two-day workshop was due to the urgent need for a strategic planning session. It needed to take place in person so that when Shell or any other corporation returns, we are united in our response, proactive in our approach and effective in our mobilisation,” she said.

When the interdict was passed, many celebrated the victory for Wild Coast communities. However, as of this year January, a new threat was posed. The West Coast oceans were yet again under attack by an Australian-owned geological data firm. The firm is proceeding with its 2D and 3D marine seismic survey programme for oil and gas exploration in the Orange Basin along the West Coast. According to SDCEA, this is because it has the required regulatory approval in place.

The coordinator at SDCEA, Desmond D’Sa, said they are not going to stop fighting the good fight.

“We are not afraid to stand up because communities are backing us and standing together all over South Africa. We have the full support from all the fishers around the entire coastline of South Africa, from all the small businesses along the coastline, surfers, swimmers as well as traditional healers.

“We are going to have town hall meetings all along the coast of South Africa. We will never stop fighting as the ocean belongs to us all,” he said. Over the course of the two days, attendees shared, engaged, and built a common understanding of the struggles directly facing the many already vulnerable communities around the country’s coastline.

Attendees also heard from a representative of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, who joined the session online and shared Nigeria’s experience with oil and gas exploration.

Fishers from the province, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and the Northern Cape spoke about the direct negative effects that oil and gas exploration has on their livelihoods.