# South Africa Wild Coast oil exploration legal dispute > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-africa-wild-coast-oil-exploration-legal-dispute > Updated: 2026-08-23T17:21:20.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. South Africa’s Constitutional Court has blocked Shell and Impact Africa from conducting offshore oil and gas exploration along the Wild Coast. The court set aside the companies’ exploration rights, ruling that the government’s approval process was fundamentally flawed due to inadequate public consultation with affected communities. The decision overturns a previous Supreme Court of Appeal ruling and concludes a five-year legal battle that began in 2021. The court determined that the companies failed to respect community rights and that procedural defects could not be cured retrospectively. This landmark case, which marks the first time a climate-related dispute has reached South Africa’s highest court, addressed concerns regarding the impact of seismic surveys on marine ecosystems, local livelihoods, and cultural practices. The ruling prevents the companies from proceeding with seismic surveys or seeking to renew exploration rights through the previously flawed approval process. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-23: South Africa Constitutional Court blocks Shell Wild Coast exploration South Africa’s Constitutional Court has blocked Shell and Impact Africa from conducting oil and gas exploration off the Wild Coast, citing inadequate community consultation and failure to consider climate risks 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-constitutional-court-blocks-shell-wild-coast-exploration ### 2026-08-20: South Africa Constitutional Court blocks Shell oil exploration South Africa’s Constitutional Court has blocked Shell and Impact Africa from conducting oil and gas exploration off the Wild Coast, citing flawed public consultations and failure to respect community rights. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-africa-constitutional-court-blocks-shell-oil-exploration-1 --- Cite as: South Africa Wild Coast oil exploration legal dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-africa-wild-coast-oil-exploration-legal-dispute