Numbers fly about to show shale gas will free South Africa from its energy shackles, provide billions and create untold jobs. Some might be exaggeration, but it is uncontested natural gas will indeed bring massive economic benefit to the country.
It's also true that some scare stories about fracking are just that - tactics to frighten off government from granting licences.
A sensible way forward is to pursue the promise of a gift from beneath our feet eagerly, while guarding against environmental degradation. The latest fracking techniques are said to be far more ecofriendly.
With our jobless stats, a stagnant economy and the black hole that is Eskom, a font of clean gas seems a damn good idea right now.
Truth is, what we need to be most fearful of are the grasping hands of certain politicians, who will try to insert themselves and their goons into the process.