The battle to keep Shell’s hands off the Wild Coast is far from over.

Sustaining The Wild Coast represented by Richard Spoor Inc Attorneys, filed a new case last week, after a South African High Court on Friday dismissed a request for an interdict from the group including Greenpeace.

In addition to potentially damaging the environment and disrupting local communities’ ability to making a living, Sustaining The Wild Coast argues that Shell does not have environmental authorisation in terms of the National Environmental Management Act for this survey.

The case, filed in the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court, will be heard on December 14.

Last Sunday, hundreds of South Coast residents showed their love for the ocean by standing together to oppose Shell’s planned seismic survey off the Wild Coast.

According to Helen Dodge of The Green Net, locals gathered at many beaches along the coastline with their banners and posters.

“They wrote messages in the sand, sang, chanted, danced and expressed their feelings on this issue,” she said.

“Unfortunately weather conditions in the morning prevented most of the planes, which were to film the gathering from the air, from taking off,” she said. But, she thanked everyone for all their photos, videos and drone footage sent in

“We have a picture of commitment and solidarity across coastal regions and communities.”

Taryn Burns of Ocean Friendly, said that having been involved with the initiative from the beginning when the seed was planted, she felt ultimately honoured when she was invited to join and document the intimate opening ceremony by the Traditional Healers Association on a small secluded beach in the Transkei.

“I couldn’t have been in a better place as we all connected along the whole coastline,” she said.

Visit Oceanfriendly – South Africa on Facebook to see Burns coverage.

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