As oil and gas exploration off South Africa’s coast continues to garner attention, the offshore drilling activities planned by two energy giants, France’s TotalEnergies and the UK-based Shell, have hit a snag, with the Western Cape High Court opting to set aside the South African government’s decision to grant environmental authorization for offshore drilling in Block 5/6/7, along the southwest coast.

A ruling , delivered by Judge Mangcu-Lockwood , following an intense legal challenge launched by the Green Connection and Natural Justice to expose flaws in how the environmental and social risks were evaluated, has returned the ball into the Department of Minerals and Petroleum’s court, requiring fresh assessments, additional information, and public participation.