The Constitutional Court has delivered a major victory for communities and environmental groups opposing Shell’s offshore exploration along South Africa’s Wild Coast.
The ruling brings years of legal challenges to a significant turning point, with the country’s highest court overturning a 2024 Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that had allowed Shell’s exploration plans to remain viable.
The decision strengthens the legal standing of coastal communities and environmental campaigners challenging offshore oil and gas activities, while raising broader questions about environmental protection, community consultation and the future of fossil-fuel exploration along South Africa’s coastline.
The case could also have wider implications for how companies conduct resource exploration in environmentally sensitive areas.