The appeal application was brought by Shell and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe following an earlier ruling by Judge Gerald Bloem.

However, this is only the first part of the application. The second application challenges Shell's environmental authorisation and aims to have Shell's exploration right reviewed and set aside.

The second part is expected to be delivered in May 2022.

This means the interim court interdict remains in place.

The co-founder of the organisation Oceans Not Oil Janet Solomon has welcomed the judgment.

READ: Taking petroleum projects to court kills investment - Mantashe

“We are looking forward to the second part of the application, the applicants will argue that the respondents should remain indicted from conducting seismic survey until they obtain an environment authorisation.”

On Tuesday in Parliament, Mantashe said taking oil companies to court will hurt investments.

But Solomon says government should look to renewable energy instead.

"Not resistance to oil and gas development which is affecting potential jobs. That's a ridiculous statement seen in the light of government and especially Mantashe dragging their feet on a deep just transition away from fossil fuels.

"According to the alternate information and development centers, climate jobs research, if socially owned renewable energy was scaled up 250,000 Climate jobs could be created in electricity and renewable energy alone, way more than exists in coal mining, and especially offshore oil and gas development."