On Freedom Day, small-scale fishing communities in the West Coast and in Gqeberha held pickets to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with developments in the Karpowership saga, while fishers from Port St. John’s Eastern Cape demonstrated their love for the ocean with a clean-up.

On Monday (25 April), the Green Connection launched an application in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria seeking to review and set aside the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) decision to grant three electricity generation licenses to the Karpowership SA companies to operate powerships in the ports of Saldanha, Ngqura (Coega) and Richards Bay.

The Green Connection has achieved excellent results in supporting and empowering communities to stand up for their environmental rights. The key to this success sits with the passionate and dedicated Community Outreach Coordinator, Neville van Rooy. Christy Bragg spoke to him about what keeps his fire burning, his interest to protecting the earth, and his travel journey.

Just months after two separate High Courts granted interim urgent interdicts against two different seismic surveys off the East and West Coasts – both predominantly as a result of insufficient consultation with affected communities – Tosaco Energy received authorisation from the Department of Mineral Resources and Environment (DMRE) to proceed with seismic blasting in Block 1 (from Alexander Bay to Hondeklipbaai, off the West Coast of South Africa), despite communities’ calls for improved public consultation.

Since February 2022, Wongeka Xatasi, a 2022 Green Connection Legacy Programme participant, started turning over a new leaf for Duncan Village in East London, by raising awareness about the importance of a united advocacy voice in the community’s fight for environmental and social justice.

Human Rights Month kicked off with a fresh new meaning for the small-scale fishing and indigenous communities on the West Coast, when the Western Cape High Court ruled that the ban against Searcher’s seismic blasting would remain because small-scale fishing communities on the West Coast – who would undoubtedly be affected – were not consulted. And since there are several unknowns, in terms of the potential for irreparable harm, the court opted for the ‘precautionary approach’ option and sent Searcher packing.

On 24 February, small-scale fishers from communities in the West Coast joined by The Green Connection were back in court, to finally put a stop to Searcher’s seismic blasting of the west and south-west coast of South Africa. The Western Cape High Court heard arguments to decide if the ban which took effect on 7 February when the Honourable Justice Thulare directed Searcher to discontinue any activities related to the seismic survey will remain in place.

Ecuador, a country in South America is obliged, as ruled by the country’s top court to ensure that Indigenous communities are consulted, in a clear and accessible process, before any oil and gas extractive activity is planned on or near their territory.The ruling also stated that the consultation process must be carried out with the purpose of obtaining consent or reaching an agreement with the communities.

On Monday (07 February 2022) following a nail biting few weeks since Searcher Geodata UK Limited commenced its seismic blasting operations (on or about 24 January 2022) – small-scale fishers from the West Coast and beyond breathed a sigh of relief when the Honourable Justice Thulare directed Searcher to discontinue any activities related to the seismic survey.

The Green Connection and the small-scale fishers who recently took Searcher Geodata to court are outraged that the Australian company’s vessel still appeared to continue its operations, even after Monday’s (7 February) court order.