Even though four environmental and human rights organisations lost their urgent court bid to block Shell from proceeding with its seismic survey off the coast of the Eastern Cape, the battle continues as a separate urgent application has been filed this week - this time by coastal and fishing communities.
Acting judge Avinash Govindjee on Friday at the Eastern Cape division of the Makhanda High Court dismissed with costs the urgent application brought by the Border Deep Sea Angling Association, the Kei Mouth Ski Boat Club, Greenpeace Africa and Natural Justice.
They had sought an urgent interdict to stop the seismic survey, pending a judicial review of Shell's environmental authorisation of the exploration activity.