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Responding to a formal press statement quoting James Lorimer, DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources, the prominent Alliance against Fracking, consisting of AfriForum and Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG), expressed their disappointment.
 
“The issuing of regulations to govern fracking when there has been no appropriate public consultation, nor adequate scientific and economic research, is a classic example of putting the horse before the cart,” said TKAG CEO, Jonathan Deal. He argued that the secrecy of government has mired the fracking decision in uncertainty and controversy and expressed his concern that Royal Dutch Shell, with the backing of the government, was misleading South African citizens.
 
Julius Kleynhans, Head of Environmental Affairs at AfriForum, criticised the failure of the DA to pick up on and oppose the unconstitutional conduct of the ANC in this matter, describing the stance of the DA as “weak”. The ANC does not respond to words such as “hopeful” and “hopefully” – we would have expected a reaction perhaps closer to the DA’s public opposition to e-tolling on a matter that will become an election campaign issue.” Kleynhans concluded that the DA had “effectively chosen to stand in the ANC’s shadow when it has been presented with a golden opportunity to act as an effective opposition.”
 
The DA said that they will fully scrutinise the regulations with the hope that they will contain an adequate balance between what is right for the environment and what is right for thousands of unemployed people who could benefit from fracking.
 
“We would like to encourage the DA to do comprehensive research and come to the party when they have facts on the table. We need to ensure sustainable development and regulation enforcement in our country,” Kleynhans added.