On 23 & 24 March 2026, the Western Cape High Court heard a landmark case challenging the environmental authorisation granted to TotalEnergies for oil and gas exploration in the Deep Water Orange Basin (DWOB) off South Africa’s West Coast. The applicants Aukotowa Fisheries Co-operative, The Green Connection, and Natural Justice argued that the approval process was fatally flawed, irrational, and inconsistent with the Constitution, the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), and South Africa’s climate and energy commitments. Watch court hearing on YouTube.
Background
On 23 October 2023, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources granted environmental authorisation to TotalEnergies for drilling ultra-deep-water exploration wells in the DWOB.
● 14 November 2023: The applicants lodged internal appeals challenging the decision.
● 24 April 2024: The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment dismissed all appeals.
● The applicants subsequently approached the Western Cape High Court to review and set aside both the Director-General’s original decision and the Minister’s dismissal of the appeals.
This case forms part of a growing national pushback against offshore oil and gas exploration, which communities and civil society groups argue threatens marine ecosystems, food security, and South Africa’s just energy future.
Download TEEPSA DWOB North Court Case Factsheet (Afrikaans, English, IsiXhosa)
Court Papers
TEEPSA Deep Water Orange Basin – Applicants Heads of Argument and LA 23619-2024
TEEPSA – Deep Water Orange Basin – Pleadings bundle paginated as per index 2026-03-03
TOT304 – TEEPSA Deep Water Orange Basin – Third Respondent’s Heads Argument – 13.02.2026
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS SOUND ALARM OVER MANY RISKS OF WEST COAST OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PROJECT
Last Friday 10 May 2024, The Green Connection and Natural Justice submitted comments, on the revised Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA) concerning the offshore oil and gas Exploration Right (ER) for Block 3B/4B. The comments were supported by Masifundise Development Trust.
THE GREEN CONNECTION IN FRANCE, WITH SA SMALL-SCALE FISHERS, SUPPORTING A CRIMINAL CLIMATE CHANGE COMPLAINT AGAINST TOTALENERGIES
This week, The Green Connection and small-scale fishers from South Africa are in Paris France to support French NGOs and climate change victims as they file a criminal complaint against TotalEnergies’ board of directors and shareholders “for their contribution to climate change and its fatal impact on human and non-human lives.”
MASSIVE OPPOSITION GROWS AS SOUTH AFRICA AND FRANCE PROTEST TOTALENERGIES OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PROJECTS
Paris, France and Johannesburg, South Africa – During the week of TotalEnergies’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) (to be held today 24 May 2024) and Africa Day, protesters in both South Africa and France continue voicing their collective opposition to the multinationals’ ongoing offshore oil and gas projects.
Karpower – Could Cost An Arm And A Leg And Our Oceans And Environment
It is the start of Environment Month and this week – on Tuesday 4 June 2024 – The Green Connection is back in court, this time to ‘force’ the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to supply critical information regarding the Karpowerships deals.
Total’s Decision Should Be Seen As An Opportunity To Re-Evaluate SA’s Energy Strategy And Accelerate The Just Transition
The Green Connection say that they are relieved to hear that TotalEnergies may abandon its offshore production right application to exploit an estimated 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent from the Brulpadda and Luiperd gas fields in Block 11B/12B. This block is located off South Africa’s south coast and is situated between Mossel Bay and Cape St. Francis.
The Green Connection Welcomes Announcement: TotalEnergies To Abandon Blocks 11B/12B And 5/6/7 In South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa – The Green Connection welcomes TotalEnergies’ recent announcement to abandon two of the four blocks it has exploration and production rights to, in South Africa.