Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, has received backlash for attempting to talk down communities and environmental activists from taking legal action over oil gas and oil exploration along the country’s coast. According to Mantashe, South Africa should learn from China and India- the world’s largest coal users- about tackling climate change.

Mantashe says power plants should not be closed hastily, nor should government succumb to pressure to rapidly change its energy sources. Wild Coast communities however lambasted the minister for failing to consult them.

After successfully halting Shell’s seismic surveys due to lack of consultation, Green Connection and others are following suit against an Australian based company currently blasting along the Western Cape’s Orange basin. The court similarly heard of irreparable damage done to marine ecosystems and threat to local economy. A national demonstration against all future seismic is set to take place in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KZN tomorrow.