Polyh, thanks for your response. The ANC govermnent has ruined all the beautiful towns in the Transkei through which you have no doubt travelled. Those towns are now fly infested sewage dumps and you are correct in saying that the trees have been destroyed. That would certainly create the impression that Shell could not do any further damage.
But the government has not succeeded in destroying the coastal areas or the ecosystems close to the shoreline and beaches of the Transkei which collectively still constitute a mini paradise. Both myself and friends of mine go occasionally to some of these places which are far from the main roads dotted around many miles of unspoilt areas; unspoilt because there has been little to no development there. They therefore have no economic value to anyone except those who love the beauty of nature as well as a certain giant oil company.
The road infrastructure in these areas is very basic with some "roads" inaccessible unless one has a 4x4. Such areas are therefore miles away from so-called "civilization" (ie the ruined towns you are probably referring to). This is a good thing because once industrial development takes place anywhere in SA all interest in preserving the environment evaporates. The EIA that Shell claims it did was thrown out by the courts as a completely flawed document that was never even passed by the Dept of Environmental Affairs due to government malfeasance.
Here is a website about just a few of these places and I have been to most. https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/10-top-hidden-gems-along-south-africas-wild-coast/.
If you google the judgment regarding the court case with Shell you will see that it was scathing against both the oil company and the Dept of Mineral Resources and Energy which is headed up by Gwede Mantashe one of the most corrupt political scoundrels in SA. He is openly opposed to Renewable Energy because he was a coal mine trade unionist leader for many years. He would certainly be salivating over the bribe money that Shell would be happy to offer him.
Regarding marine life, the Wild Coast by its name is a very rough and dangerous stretch of coast line and although I may be wrong I doubt that this stretch of coast would be boat-friendly to the fish poaching world. But what I do know is that it is one of the world's most appreciated places for acquatic whale migration. This came up strongly in the court case of Shell vs the Environmentalists where Shell stated that their intended seizmic blasting samples would have no material effect on marine life. That was laughed out of court.
Polyh, I agree with you that this country desperately needs jobs but this vile ANC government are only interested in enriching the politically connected comrades through deals and and tenders which have destroyed our economy and given rise to obscene levels of unemployment. Our mines for examples, once the leading lights of the SA economy are now languishing as hives of corruption largely stripped of the economic wealth they were once generating. Its tragic. I promise you that this Shell project would never have the best interests of the country at heart but would leave destruction and misery in its wake. The local communities who live in the affected area know that which is why they were actually the driving force behind the court action. The heart of the judgement centered around their best interests when the Shell case was thrown out. Shell and government are now appealing the judgement but fortunately our courts have not been captured unlike the rest of the country so they remain impartial.
Polyh, we may have differing views on this subject and I am happy to respectfully disagree. I sense the bitterness and anger in your words when you were describing how you saw the destruction that had taken place when driving from East London along the main roads that bypass Wild Coast and you are more than justified. I was recently in East London, which I knew as one of the most wonderful sea side cities and it would break your heart if you were to see it now. The same applies to Durban where I live whose beaches are now swimming in sewage. SA desperately needs the world to support us in ridding ourselves of this government of thieves and gangsters.
I realize that this post has little to do with the actual subject of this group, but there is not much else to say while we are marking time impatiently waiting for the Helium switch-on.
Thank you for your kind words regarding my posts. I also value yours and enjoy sitting around the same campfire as the rest of us
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