A group of small-scale fishers from the West Coast took to the Western Cape High Court on Monday, 7 February in a bid to stop a seismic blasting that commence in January.
The latest urgent interdict was initiated by small-scale fishing communities from Saldanha, Langebaan, Lamberts Bay, Port Nolloth and St. Helena Bay on the West Coast.
According to the civic organisation, Green Connection, the case is similar to the one brought against the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy in December by communities on the Wild Coast.
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The group’s legal team, have told the court that Searcher GeoData UK’s operation is unlawful since it did not seek an environmental authorisation in terms of South Africa’s environmental legislation, which it is legally required to do.
Green Connection’s Community Outreach Coordinator Neville van Rooy further mentioned that government cannot ignore the overwhelming outcry from so many under-threat fishing communities, especially along the coastline, who now must consistently rely on the judicial system to protect them from harmful, unjust State decisions.
“The time has come for this government to smell the snoek and to make better choices regarding the country’s economic development,” Van Rooy said.
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Picture: Green Connection