The Green Connection Timeline
Six Years of Environmental Justice & Community Advocacy (2021-2026)
2021 -Community-Led Resistance and Key Victories Against Fossil Fuels
January
GC sends submission to NERSA’s Redetermination on Eskom MYPD6.
February
GC and Natural Justice file their answering affidavit in the Supreme Court of Appeal, opposing attempts by the State and Shell to widen the grounds of appeal in offshore Block 5/6/7 drilling matter.
March
No major events recorded this month.
April
TEEPSA withdraws EIA application for Saldanha gas-to-power project after pressure from fishers and GC. GC releases report showing offshore oil and gas offer little socio-economic benefit. TOTAL postpones drilling in Block 11B/12B.
May
GC lodges complaint with DFFE over EIA regulation breaches in Karpowership Saldanha Bay project. Dutch court orders Shell to slash emissions. GC raises red flags over Tosaco Energy's Block 1 exploration EIA.
June
Hundreds protest Karpowerships at Saldanha's Friday Island Beach. President opens energy sector (cautious praise from GC). Major victory: DFFE refuses environmental authorisations for all three gas-to-power projects.
July
No major events recorded this month.
August
GC submits responses opposing Karpowership SA's appeals against DFFE's refusal. GC presents oral arguments against Karpowership licences at public hearings.
September
GC condemns Minister Mantashe's pro-oil and gas budget. Over 200 attend "Who Stole Our Oceans" Tribunal. Small-scale fishers and farmers oppose Bill's fossil fuel focus at public hearings.
October
No major events recorded this month.
November
GC joins peaceful demonstration outside African Energy Week demanding end to fossil fuels. Nearly 200 activists gather at V&A as Shell's Amazon Warrior docks enroute to Wild Coast.
December
GC condemns Minister Mantashe's remarks attacking anti-Shell outcry. Civil society successfully halts Shell's Wild Coast seismic survey and heads to court for West Coast protection.
2022 - Advancing Justice Through Legal Challenges and Public Advocacy
January
No major events recorded this month.
February
Minister Mantashe's secret meetings with traditional leaders exposed. West Coast fishers supported by GC head to court to stop Searcher's seismic blasting. Communities victorious as court orders halt to survey activities.
March
No major events recorded this month.
April
GC takes NERSA to court to challenge Karpowership electricity generation licences for Saldanha, Coega, and Richards Bay operations.
May
NERSA announces opposition to GC's Karpowership court challenge. GC launches #WhoStoleOurOceans awareness campaign in Cape Town on Africa Day, calling for end to offshore oil and gas investment.
June
GC welcomes news that no Power Purchase Agreements with Karpowership have been signed. GC submits objections to TotalEnergies' Block 5/6/7 project.
July
No major events recorded this month.
August
No major events recorded this month.
September
Makhanda High Court rules Shell's Wild Coast exploration right unlawful. GC demands transparency over Azinam's missing Oil Spill Plan; fishers picket in Saldanha. Oceans Tribunal verdict delivered to Presidential Climate Commission. TotalEnergies applies for gas field production licence.
October
No major events recorded this month.
November
During 16 Days of Activism, fisherwomen highlight struggles against gender-based violence and fossil fuel threats to livelihoods.
December
Nationwide protests erupt against TotalEnergies and oil giants, with communities from Northern Cape to KZN demanding stop to new fossil fuel projects.
2023 - Strategic Litigation and Policy Pressure for a Sustainable Energy Plan
January
GC and SAFCEI launch legal challenge against President Ramaphosa over Section 6 of National Energy Act. Goldman Prize winners urge 78 banks and insurers to stop financing TotalEnergies' African projects.
February
GC and Natural Justice submit comments on TotalEnergies' Block 11B/12B scoping process, highlighting EIA shortcomings. President and Minister Mantashe confirm opposition to GC and SAFCEI's legal challenge.
March
GC submits Regulation 13 complaint against Triplo4 consultants for EIA breaches. DFFE denies Karpowership Coega authorisation and suspends Saldanha Bay application - major community win.
April
GC and SAFCEI continue Section 6 court case. GC expresses disappointment as DMRE grants TotalEnergies permission for five deep-water wells in Blocks 5/6/7. President publishes decision on Section 6, effective April 2024.
May
No major events recorded this month.
June
No major events recorded this month.
July
GC submits comments on SAREM, warning of narrow focus on electricity without addressing household energy security and poverty. GC files replying affidavits in NERSA and Karpowership court case.
August
No major events recorded this month.
September
GC and Natural Justice challenge Minister Creecy's decision allowing Karpowership's Generic EMPr for Saldanha. GC warns South Africans about powership risks after Karpowership cuts power to Freetown, Sierra Leone.
October
No major events recorded this month.
November
GC joins Power Up for Climate Solutions movement outside Parliament ahead of COP28. GC, Natural Justice, and fishers object to two new TotalEnergies applications. Goldman winners write to President urging withdrawal of Petroleum Bill.
December
National actions unite communities against offshore drilling targeting Shell, QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies, and Searcher. GC submits appeals against CGG Seismic Survey 2.0 and Karpowership Saldanha Bay.
2024 - Securing Landmark Victories and Challenging New Fossil Fuel Frontiers
January
GC alarmed over government and PetroSA's decision to appoint Equator Holdings for gas infrastructure funding, warning of fossil fuel entrenchment.
February
No major events recorded this month.
March
GC and Natural Justice launch court challenge against TotalEnergies' Block 5/6/7 exploratory drilling authorisation. DMRE Ministers, DFFE, and TotalEnergies all confirm opposition to the legal challenge.
April
No major events recorded this month.
May
GC, Natural Justice, and Masifundise submit comments on Block 3B/4B revised EIA. GC representatives and fishers travel to Paris supporting French NGOs in criminal complaint against TotalEnergies. Protests at TotalEnergies AGM in France and South Africa.
June
GC returns to court to compel NERSA and DMRE to release Karpowership information. GC welcomes reports TotalEnergies may abandon Block 11B/12B production right application.
July
GC celebrates TotalEnergies' official withdrawal from exploration blocks 11B/12B and 5/6/7 - major victory for environmental and socio-economic justice.
August
Women's Month: West Coast fisherwomen protest Searcher's seismic surveys. GC welcomes Constitutional Court's dismissal of Shell and Impact Africa's Wild Coast appeal. GC criticises State's delay in TotalEnergies Block 5/6/7 record delivery.
September
Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources finally submits TotalEnergies' Block 5/6/7 record of decision after pressure from GC and Natural Justice.
October
Karpowership projects declared "dead in the water" - major victory. GC and Extinction Rebellion protest outside Africa Oil Week. GC, Natural Justice, and Masifundise amplify opposition to Block 3B/4B ahead of COP29. Supplementary affidavit submitted for Block 5/6/7 challenge.
November
GC submits comments on Eskom's MYPD6 application. GC, Aukotowa Fisheries, and Natural Justice return to Western Cape High Court challenging coastal projects; TotalEnergies files opposition. Judicial review filed against TGS Geophysical seismic survey authorisation.
December
No major events recorded this month.
2025 - Driving Energy Justice, Defending Coastal Communities and Celebrating 25 Years of Impact
January
No major events recorded this month.
February
GC kicks off campaign with Port St John's workshop. EA practitioners withdraw Assegai's Saldanha power project application. GC criticises President's SONA for excluding ocean protection and small-scale fishers.
March
No major events recorded this month.
April
TEEPSA withdraws EIA application for Saldanha gas-to-power project after pressure from fishers and GC. GC releases report showing offshore oil and gas offer little socio-economic benefit. TOTAL postpones drilling in Block 11B/12B.
May
GC lodges complaint with DFFE over EIA regulation breaches in Karpowership Saldanha Bay project. Dutch court orders Shell to slash emissions. GC raises red flags over Tosaco Energy's Block 1 exploration EIA.
June
Hundreds protest Karpowerships at Saldanha's Friday Island Beach. President opens energy sector (cautious praise from GC). Major victory: DFFE refuses environmental authorisations for all three gas-to-power projects.
July
No major events recorded this month.
August
GC submits responses opposing Karpowership SA's appeals against DFFE's refusal. GC presents oral arguments against Karpowership licences at public hearings.
September
GC condemns Minister Mantashe's pro-oil and gas budget. Over 200 attend "Who Stole Our Oceans" Tribunal. Small-scale fishers and farmers oppose Bill's fossil fuel focus at public hearings.
October
No major events recorded this month.
November
GC joins peaceful demonstration outside African Energy Week demanding end to fossil fuels. Nearly 200 activists gather at V&A as Shell's Amazon Warrior docks enroute to Wild Coast.
December
GC condemns Minister Mantashe's remarks attacking anti-Shell outcry. Civil society successfully halts Shell's Wild Coast seismic survey and heads to court for West Coast protection.
2026 -Standing with Communities for Climate Justice and Good Governance
January
No major events recorded this month.
February
GC kicks off campaign with Port St John's workshop. EA practitioners withdraw Assegai's Saldanha power project application. GC criticises President's SONA for excluding ocean protection and small-scale fishers.
March
No major events recorded this month.
April
TEEPSA withdraws EIA application for Saldanha gas-to-power project after pressure from fishers and GC. GC releases report showing offshore oil and gas offer little socio-economic benefit. TOTAL postpones drilling in Block 11B/12B.
May
GC lodges complaint with DFFE over EIA regulation breaches in Karpowership Saldanha Bay project. Dutch court orders Shell to slash emissions. GC raises red flags over Tosaco Energy's Block 1 exploration EIA.
June
Hundreds protest Karpowerships at Saldanha's Friday Island Beach. President opens energy sector (cautious praise from GC). Major victory: DFFE refuses environmental authorisations for all three gas-to-power projects.
July
No major events recorded this month.
August
GC submits responses opposing Karpowership SA's appeals against DFFE's refusal. GC presents oral arguments against Karpowership licences at public hearings.
September
GC condemns Minister Mantashe's pro-oil and gas budget. Over 200 attend "Who Stole Our Oceans" Tribunal. Small-scale fishers and farmers oppose Bill's fossil fuel focus at public hearings.
October
No major events recorded this month.
November
GC joins peaceful demonstration outside African Energy Week demanding end to fossil fuels. Nearly 200 activists gather at V&A as Shell's Amazon Warrior docks enroute to Wild Coast.
December
GC condemns Minister Mantashe's remarks attacking anti-Shell outcry. Civil society successfully halts Shell's Wild Coast seismic survey and heads to court for West Coast protection.