South Africa Constitutional Court blocks Shell oil exploration

South Africa’s Constitutional Court has issued a landmark ruling blocking Shell and Impact Africa from conducting offshore oil and gas exploration along the Wild Coast. The apex court set aside the disputed exploration rights, determining that the companies failed to conduct proper public consultations and neglected to respect community rights.

The judgment, authored by Justice Jody Kollapen, overturned a previous Supreme Court of Appeal decision that had allowed seismic testing to continue while attempting to rectify procedural flaws. The Constitutional Court rejected the notion that these original defects could be cured retrospectively, ruling the project unlawful.

The decision follows years of intense public opposition and legal challenges led by groups such as the Amadiba Crisis Committee, the Kei Mouth Ski Boat Club, and various local community members. Protests against the planned 3D seismic surveys had spread across the South African coastline, driven by concerns over potential oil spills and the impact of blasting on the marine environment and local livelihoods.