A Thyspunt Thank You
What a response!
From detailed scientific reports to passionate one-line submissions, thousands of pages of documentation were read, questioned, challenged, and commented on by people who care deeply about Thyspunt and its future.
To everyone who attended meetings, submitted comments, shared information, asked difficult questions, encouraged neighbours to participate, or simply helped spread the word — thank you. Every contribution mattered.
The Draft Scoping Report ran to thousands of pages, but the public response showed that the community’s determination is even greater.
The process united residents, conservationists, farmers, surfers, business owners, scientists, heritage specialists, legal experts, and many others around a shared conviction, a development of this scale does not belong in a landscape so rich in culture and biodiversity. Our voices matter.
The level of engagement has been inspiring. It demonstrates that Thyspunt is not simply a location on a map, it is a place that people value, protect, and care about deeply.
While the submission of comments as part of the EIA Scoping phase marks an important milestone, this is not the finish line. Think of it as the end of the first lap. There is still much work ahead, and the Thyspunt Alliance remains committed to keeping the community informed and involved every step of the way.
Donors and the Thyspunt Alliance Fund
A special thank you goes to everyone who has contributed to the Thyspunt Alliance Fund. Your support has allowed the Alliance to obtain independent legal and scientific advice and ensure that community concerns are properly represented throughout this process.
We are grateful for every contribution, large or small. Donors who wish to be acknowledged will be recognised, and all funds will be used exclusively for legal and scientific responses relating to the proposed development.
The Alliance has appointed Cullinan & Associates as its legal advisors and has already used donor funding to obtain legal opinions, develop a legal strategy, and prepare detailed submissions on behalf of the community.
There will undoubtedly be more financial peaks in the road ahead, but thanks to the generosity of supporters, we are better prepared to meet them.
Legal costs incurred to date: R178,793.17.
To every donor, volunteer, specialist, and supporter — thank you for helping ensure that this process receives the independent scrutiny that a project of this scale deserves.
The Road Ahead
The comments may be in, but the Thyspunt story is far from over.
The next step is for WSP to submit the Final Scoping Report to the DFFE. The Department will then decide whether the project may proceed to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) phase.
If the process moves forward, there will be further specialist investigations, another round of public participation, and another opportunity for communities and experts to review the findings and have their say.
If an Environmental Authorisation is eventually granted, the Alliance is prepared to exercise its rights through the appeal process and, if necessary, through the courts.
For now, take a moment to celebrate what has been achieved. The community showed up, the experts showed up, and the public record is far stronger because of it.
Then, after a well-earned cup of coffee, we prepare for the next chapter.
Other Thyspunt relevant public participation processes:
The Nuclear Site Licence process before the National Nuclear Regulator, which will create further opportunities for public participation. When those opportunities arise, we will ensure that everyone knows how to get involved.
Before any new nuclear power programme can proceed, a determination in terms of Section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act will be required. Recent court rulings have confirmed that meaningful public participation must form part of this process. In simple terms, there will be another opportunity for South Africans to have their say on whether nuclear expansion is needed, how much is required, and what role it should play in the country’s energy future. The conversation about Thyspunt therefore extends well beyond the current environmental assessment process.
The Thyspunt Alliance Fund is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with SARS Section 18A approval (PBO 930088391).
Why Continued Funding Matters
A well-organised, evidence-based campaign requires more than passion and commitment. It requires access to independent scientific expertise, specialist legal advice, and the resources necessary to engage effectively with complex regulatory processes.
The Thyspunt Alliance remains committed to ensuring that all funds received are used exclusively for legal and scientific expenses. No funds are used for salaries, administration, or unrelated activities. Every contribution supports the Alliance’s ability to obtain independent expert review, prepare submissions, and ensure that community concerns are properly represented.
While we have successfully completed Phase One of the process, the Draft Scoping Phase, some of the most resource-intensive stages still lie ahead.
Funding may be required in the immediate future should the Final Scoping Report fail to accurately reflect or adequately address the issues raised during the public participation process. In such circumstances, legal intervention may be necessary to protect procedural fairness and ensure compliance with environmental legislation.
Next major funding requirement
The next major funding requirement is expected during the Environmental Impact Assessment phase. When the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report and specialist studies are released, the Alliance will once again need legal review and independent scientific scrutiny of the findings and conclusions. This is likely to involve specialist input across multiple disciplines to assess whether impacts have been properly identified and evaluated.
Further significant costs may arise should the Department grant an Environmental Authorisation. An appeal process would require the preparation of detailed legal submissions and supporting technical evidence. Should such an appeal be unsuccessful, the largest financial commitment would likely be a judicial review application to the courts, where decisions can be challenged on legal and procedural grounds.
Additional resources will also be required to participate effectively in other parallel regulatory processes, including submissions to the National Nuclear Regulator regarding the Nuclear Site Licence application and participation in any future Section 34 Electricity Regulation Act process relating to nuclear energy expansion in South Africa.
The reality is that major environmental and regulatory decisions are often shaped over many years and through multiple processes. The Alliance therefore believes it is important to build and maintain the capacity to respond when critical decision points arise, rather than trying to raise funds only once those moments have arrived.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported the Alliance thus far. Your contributions are helping to ensure that decisions affecting Thyspunt are subjected to independent scientific scrutiny, robust legal review, and meaningful public participation every step of the way.
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