{"id":108054,"date":"2026-02-04T14:55:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T14:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/?p=108054"},"modified":"2026-02-05T08:31:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T08:31:23","slug":"afriforum-calls-on-public-to-fight-fracking-before-the-hourglass-finally-runs-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/en\/afriforum-calls-on-public-to-fight-fracking-before-the-hourglass-finally-runs-out\/","title":{"rendered":"AfriForum calls on public to fight fracking before the hourglass finally runs out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Marais-de-Vaal_4-Feb-2026_ENG.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Soundbite: Marais de Vaal (English)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Marais-de-Vaal_4-Feb-2026_AFR.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Soundbite: Marais de Vaal (Afrikaans)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>AfriForum warns that if the government gives the green light to fracking, communities will pay the price. The civil rights organisation therefore encourages the public to oppose the lifting of a moratorium on fracking due to the serious risks that this practice poses to the country\u2019s already scarce water resources.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The appeal follows in response to the proposed regulations published by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in November last year. If these draft regulations are accepted, it will finally nullify the moratorium that was \u2013 after public pressure \u2013 originally imposed on fracking in 2011, and, after a brief lifting in 2012, re-imposed in 2014. The public still has until 13 February to submit comments on the regulations and prevent fracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfriForum warns that fracking, a method by which natural gas is extracted, poses an unacceptable risk for a country that is already extremely water scarce and is currently ranked 22nd in the World Resources Institute (WRI) world water stress ranking. This ranking indicates the extent to which countries are experiencing water scarcity and pressure on water resources. South Africa\u2019s water stress is more or less the same as Namibia (21st) and Iraq (23rd) \u2013 both desert or semi-desert countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fracking is a process by which chemicals are pumped into shale rocks at extremely high pressure to fracture the rock and thereby release and extract methane gas contained within. The process requires considerable volumes of water and carries the risk of causing serious groundwater and surface water pollution. Contamination of water sources often results in irreversible damage, directly impacting communities, agriculture, and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to AfriForum, the government is making exaggerated promises and claiming that fracking will lead to significant economic growth and job creation. However, the civil rights organisation maintains that the negative consequences of water loss and pollution far outweigh their potential economic benefits. Moreover, the draft regulations assume that the government will ensure safe and responsible fracking \u2013 an assumption that, given the repeated failures in the mining and industrial sectors, appears to be unrealistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDecisions taken now will determine whether South Africa protects its scarce water resources or exposes them to permanent damage,\u201d says Marais de Vaal, AfriForum\u2019s Environmental Affairs Advisor. \u201cFracking is being presented as a quick economic fix, but when regulation fails, it is communities that lose access to water, livelihoods and food security. When this occurs, neither the government nor private companies will come to their rescue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-2-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Take a stand against fracking today<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfriForum calls on the public to take a stand against fracking in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sign AfriForum\u2019s petition against the approval of the regulations before 13 February <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artikels.afriforum.co.za\/en\/say-no-to-fracking-in-south-africa\/\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay informed and click <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/TCpEmIVoOgs\">here<\/a><\/strong> for AfriForum\u2019s new short video on the dangers of fracking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit written comments on the proposed regulations before the deadline (13 February). Send comments by email to smoganetsi@dffe.gov.za.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AfriForum warns that if the government gives the green light to fracking, communities will pay the price. 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