A serene morning unfolds along the Wild Coast, where the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve meets the Eastern Cape’s tranquil shores. The beach, bathed in soft sunlight, appears deserted save for the footsteps in the sand—tracks leading from the lush coastal forest to the intertidal zone. Here, 65-year-old Malibongwe David Gongqose moves with practiced ease over the rocky shore, his gaze fixed on the sea’s bounty.
With a homemade tool in hand, Gongqose skillfully harvests octopus for bait, his weathered hands working quickly against the low tide. After catching his prize, he sets off down the beach towards the ancestral fishing grounds that have sustained his community for generations.
But as Gongqose casts his lines in the shadow of his forefathers, a looming threat hangs over the Wild Coast—a battle that has pitted corporate interests against the deep-rooted spirituality and livelihoods of the region’s indigenous communities.
The heart of this conflict lies in a 2021 announcement by global oil giant Shell, which revealed plans to begin a seismic survey for oil exploration 25 kilometers off the coast of the Dwesa-Cwebe Reserve. The survey was part of a broader effort in which Shell, in partnership with Impact Africa Ltd, a private oil and gas firm, was granted exploration rights for large swaths of this sensitive area.
What followed was a fierce legal struggle, one that now stands at the doorstep of South Africa’s Constitutional Court. The case, which has gained national and international attention, could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the Wild Coast—a 300km stretch of coastline renowned for its ecological significance, cultural heritage, and spiritual importance to local communities.
For Gongqose and his neighbors, the ocean is far more than a source of livelihood. It is a living, breathing part of their identity, a sacred force woven into the fabric of their daily lives. Yet, as the legal battle rages, the very waters that have sustained their ancestors for centuries now stand at risk of exploitation—an outcome that could forever alter the region’s natural and cultural landscape.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Wild Coast’s future remains uncertain, with the lives of its people, the health of its ecosystems, and the preservation of its rich cultural heritage hanging in the balance.