‘SPOILED’ Exposes the Real Cost of Offshore Oil and Gas in South Africa

A powerful new short film titled SPOILED has premiered at a high-level marine workshop in Cape Town, spotlighting the environmental, social, and economic risks of offshore oil and gas operations along South Africa’s coastline.

Presented by WILDTRUST and The Green Connection and produced by Love Africa Marketing, the film is a poignant call to action for marine conservation and climate justice.

South Africa’s Ocean Heritage Under Threat

SPOILED travels along the Northern Cape’s remote coastline and the culturally significant Wild Coast, weaving together the voices of local fishers, youth activists, scientists, and traditional leaders.

These everyday heroes are confronting international oil and gas giants, calling out flawed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), lack of public consultation, and community exclusion.

“There’s not enough effort to explain the real impacts of offshore oil and gas on coastal livelihoods,” says Neville van Rooy of The Green Connection.

The Human Cost of Oil Exploration

Community leaders like Chanel Jaar, founder of the Environmental Traits Youth Organisation in Port Nolloth, and Walter Steenkamp of the Aukotowa Fishing Co-operative speak with emotional clarity about the lived impacts and long-term risks of offshore drilling.

“Food security, heritage, biodiversity—these are what we stand to lose,” says Jaar. “And once it’s gone, there’s no getting it back.”

A Story of Resistance and Hope

But SPOILED is not only about loss. It celebrates resistance and grassroots empowerment. Through heartfelt storytelling and cinematic visuals, it invites every South African to join the movement to protect our oceans.

Lauren van Nijkerk, Campaigns Director at WILDTRUST, explains:

“This is a story of hope. These communities are standing up not just for themselves, but for all of us—and for future generations.”

Empowering Public Participation

Alongside the film, a dedicated interactive platform has been launched at www.stopthespoil.co.za, giving the public access to offshore application data and the tools to participate in consultation processes. The platform currently lists 15 active oil and gas applications and aims to become a central hub for public engagement.

“The idea is simple—give people the information they need to speak up,” says van Nijkerk.

The Bigger Picture: A Crossroads for South Africa’s Energy Future

The film’s release comes as the country awaits the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP), which will define South Africa’s energy path for decades. Experts warn that the plan must prioritise environmental and social equity, not just economic growth.

“Operation Phakisa’s blue economy strategy wrongly assumes that oceans exist to be exploited,” says van Rooy. “It ignores their cultural, ecological, and subsistence value.”

Why This Matters Now

In 2023, WILDTRUST released a first-of-its-kind Oil Spill Model, showing that a spill off Durban could contaminate the east coast within three days—and the west coast within a month. The modelling revealed that South Africa’s oceanic currents could cause widespread and unpredictable devastation.

“These are not hypothetical risks. They are imminent, and they are irreversible if we don’t act,” says Jaar.