The planned seismic survey by oil giant Shell along the Wild Coast has been met with different views from holidaymakers and business owners at Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape.
Port St Johns is known for its natural beauty and beaches. Holidaymakers from different parts of the country descend on Port St Johns for the festive season.
Last year, beaches were closed in the Eastern Cape during the third wave of the coronavirus.
The business sector was among those groups that took part in 60 protests against Shell’s plans to survey the sea bed using loud bursts of sound underwater.
High Court reserves judgment in Shell’s second application for seismic blasting at the Wild Coast:
“We are not happy about Shell coming here, because we feel the marginalized will remain impoverished while stakeholders get richer. What is going to happen to our people who make a living by working these beaches,” says Monica Harper.
“What does it bring, does it bring job creation because we can’t talk about protecting the wildlife while people are starving. There’s so much poverty in this place,” says Nceba Mnyaka.
INTERVIEW: New bid to halt Shell seismic blasting off Wild Coast: Wilmien Wicomb and Sinegugu Zukulu
