Activist organisations vindicated by court’s TotalEnergies oil exploration ruling

CAPE TOWN - Social and environmental justice organisations said they feel vindicated after the Western Cape High Court’s decision to set aside government’s decision to allow TotalEnergies to conduct offshore drilling.  

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources gave the project the green light in July.

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However, the Green Connection and Natural Justice challenged the decision in the courts.

This week, the high court found that the project’s proceedings were deeply flawed, as coastal protection laws were ignored.  

Strategic lead at the Green Connection, Liz McDaid, said they hoped that this would lead to improved decision-making within government departments.

"Good governance is being upheld by the courts, but it is a sad reflection on both the Department of Mineral Petroleum and the Minister of Environment Affairs that they are unable to implement good governance."