South Africa collaborates with Israel on Block 1 Orange Basin oil deal
South Africa has undermined its moral and legal human rights and environmental obligations in approving the buy-in of Israeli company, Navitas, to an offshore oil block on the border of South Africa and Namibia.
The following is a press release by affiliate Masifundise Development Trust, along with South African BDS Coalition, Climate Justice Coalition and Natural Justice:
Friday, 25 September 2026
South Africa leads the world in the charge against Israel’s genocide and occupation of Palestine, yet has approved the transfer of offshore oil exploration rights to Navitas Petroleum [1], an Israeli company that materially benefits the State of Israel. [2]
Civil society organisations are calling on Minister Gwede Mantashe of Mineral and Petroleum Resources to overturn the decision.
This approval exposes a contradiction in South Africa’s stance on Israel’s genocide, apartheid and ongoing severe human rights violations in Palestine. In the absence of a public participation process, this also raises questions about transparency in decision making around South Africa’s commercial relations with the Apartheid State of Israel. Further to this, fossil fuel exploitation in the region would have long term social, environmental and climate impacts on current and future generations, especially fisherfolk reliant on the ocean for livelihood and cultural activities. The country is already on rocky moral ground, as it continues to be the major supplier of coal to Israel through Swiss-UK company Glencore and others; Israel relies on coal for its electricity supply, which is critical for its military industrial complex and illegal settlements. [3]
While a number of Israeli companies continue to operate in South Africa, the approval of the Navitas farm-in is a conscious decision to collaborate with an Israeli company. It cannot be in South Africa’s national interest to enter into new commercial arrangements with a country it is challenging in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), under the Genocide Convention. Moreover, in the recent Constitutional Court Judgment permanently halting Shell and Impact Africa’s controversial oil and gas exploration off the pristine Wild Coast, the ICJ Advisory Opinion on States’ obligations in the context of climate change was referenced saying: “decisions must be taken within a framework of heightened diligence, informed by scientific knowledge, international commitments and the foreseeable impacts of emissions on present and future generations.”
In mid-August, Minister Gwede Mantashe and the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) were warned of the significant risks associated with the entry of Navitas into South Africa’s offshore fossil fuel arena. The South African BDS Coalition, Masifundise Development Trust, Natural Justice, and Climate Justice Coalition (representing about 90 organisations) submitted a letter to PASA’s Dr Bongani Sayidini and the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, highlighting the significant potential long term human rights and environmental impacts associated with this transfer, and requesting a thorough public participation process before any decision was made. This letter was not acknowledged nor answered. [4]
The organisations further intend to establish whether the transfer to Navitas was conducted lawfully, rationally, and in consideration of South Africa’s national interest. Gas and oil exploration comes at a cost to people and the planet, threatening ecosystems, livelihoods and our right to a safe, healthy environment. The public and potentially affected communities have the right to information that could impact their wellbeing.
In the interests of protecting South Africa’s constitutionally enshrined rights on just administrative action, environment, and access to information, the four organisations have now submitted an application under the South African Promotion of Access to Information Act for critical information related to the arrangement with Navitas.
Contacts
- Roshan Dadoo, South African BDS Coalition Tel: +27 82 816 2799 / Email: sabdscoalition@gmail.com
- Katherine Robinson, Natural Justice (Johannesburg) Tel: +27 76 227 6517 / Email: katherine@naturaljustice.org
- Gabriel Klaasen and Shaazia Ebrahim, Climate Justice Coalition Tel: +27 83 320 2255 / comms@climatejusticecoalition.org
- Riska Koopman, Masifundise Development Trust riska@masifundise.org.za
Notes
[1] Access Newswire, 22 September 2026. Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. Announces Completion of Farm Down in Block 1 CBK
[2] In June 2026, an application was made to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) for approval of a transfer to Navitas Petroleum of 37,5% ownership of Block 1 in the Orange Basin. Navitas would also take operatorship of the block, and has the option of a further 10% buy-in. The block is strategically located on the border of South Africa and Namibia, extending along 174 km of shoreline to about 260 km into the ocean. Navitas is an Israeli company, listed on the flagship index of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, pays taxes to the State of Israel, and benefits Israeli investors.
[3] Khan, S.C., March 2026. Fuelling Genocide, An Analysis of South Africa’s Coal Exports to Israel. South African BDS Coalition.
[4] For more information, please see the SA BDS Coalition website, or request the letter sent to PASA and DMPR.
