Gwede Mantashe roasted in court over Shell support

17 December 2021 - 13:26 By Adrienne Carlisle
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Mineral resources and energy minister Gwede Mantashe has been accused of 'nailing his colours to the Shell mast'. File photo
Mineral resources and energy minister Gwede Mantashe has been accused of 'nailing his colours to the Shell mast'. File photo
Image: Baba Jiyane

Mineral resources and energy minister Gwede Mantashe was ignorant and gravely insulting when he accused communities along the Wild Coast who are challenging Shell’s seismic survey of “engaging in colonialism and apartheid of a special sort”, it was argued in the high court in Makhanda on Friday.

Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC said it would have been pointless for his clients, who range from individual fisher folk to community organisations along the Wild Coast, to have embarked on an internal appeal to the minister as he had already “nailed his colours to the Shell mast”.

It was suggested in court papers that before resorting to court action, the communities should have exhausted other remedies, which included an internal appeal to Mantashe.

“He has been unequivocal that he supports Shell,” said Ngcukaitobi.

“The language he used was unfortunate. He accused the communities I represent of engaging in colonialism and apartheid of a special sort masquerading as environmental protection.”

He said this showed Mantashe to be ignorant of who his clients were or the basis of their concerns.

“To instead defend Shell, with its headquarters in England, is a grave insult.”

Ngcukaitobi argued that the consultation carried out by Shell before proceeding with its seismic surveying along the Wild Coast was a farcical sham and had deliberately excluded communities and individuals who rely on the coastline for sustenance and income.

They had also failed to obtain environmental authorisation in terms of environmental legislation, and their seismic survey was therefore unlawful.

Advocate Olav Ronaasen is representing the minister and advocate Adrian Friedman will argue the case for Shell.

Earlier on Friday, the Daily Dispatch reported that in its court papers, Shell said it stands to lose the more than R1bn it has invested so far in its seismic testing off the Wild Coast as well as any future possibility of exploiting oil and gas reserves in that area if it is interdicted from continuing with the survey.

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