South African coastal communities backed by The Green Connection and Natural Justice have launched a judicial review against TotalEnergies challenging the legality of the oil giants recently approved offshore drilling permits that stretch from Cape Town to the Cape of Agulhas.
The bold legal action has not only reignited the long-smouldering debate over fossil fuel exploitation along Africa’s fragile coastlines but also triggered a continental wave of solidarity with groups like #StopEACOP publicly voicing support and calling for accountability from one of the world’s most powerful energy conglomerates.
At the heart of this court battle is a profound concern for biodiversity, cultural heritage and climate justice.
The communities argue that TotalEnergies’ permits were granted without meaningful public consultation, transparent environmental assessments or respect for indigenous coastal knowledge.
The area is renowned for its rich marine ecosystems, migratory whale routes, and a local fishing economy that sustains thousands.
Environmentalists warn that offshore exploration and drilling could unleash irreversible damage through seismic blasting, oil spills and increased carbon emissions.
Filed in the Cape Town High Court, the judicial review demands that South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and TotalEnergies justify how such permits were issued in light of the country’s constitutional environmental rights and international climate obligations.
“The law was trampled. Communities were sidelined. Ecosystems were ignored,” said Liz McDaid, strategic lead at The Green Connection. “We are saying: enough is enough. People must come before profits.”
If successful, the review could nullify TotalEnergies’ permits, setting a legal precedent that could ripple across Africa’s extractive industries and potentially disrupt other oil and gas mega-projects including the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
This isn’t the first time TotalEnergies has come under fire for its operations in Africa. From Uganda and Tanzania, where EACOP has faced sustained opposition to Mozambique’s LNG crisis, the French oil giant is increasingly seen as a symbol of fossil fuel neocolonialism in a climate-fragile continent.
The growing backlash against Total’s activities speaks to a rising tide of climate consciousness in Africa where communities are asserting not only environmental concerns but also sovereignty and participatory governance.
“We are not anti-development,” noted Melita Steele of Natural Justice. “We are anti-exploitation. Africa must define development on its own terms clean, just and inclusive.”
The case has sparked solidarity from across Africa. In Uganda, the #StopEACOP movement hailed the judicial review as a “heroic stand for planetary survival,” calling on African leaders to choose green energy over black gold.
“This is more than just South Africa’s fight. It’s a fight for all Africans who believe in a liveable future,” said a tweet from @stopEACOP.
The battle also adds pressure on global financial institutions who continue to fund fossil fuel projects in Africa under the guise of development, despite net-zero pledges and worsening climate impacts already being felt across the continent.
The legal process is expected to be long and fiercely contested with TotalEnergies likely to defend its permits aggressively. However, the communities remain firm saying they will not be silenced.
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