President Zuma given hydraulic fracturing ultimatum

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The Treasure Karoo Action Group says President Jacob Zuma has been given 30 days to halt the issuing of exploration licences for fracking in the Karoo,

CEO Jonathan Deal says they want to see physical steps to halt the process and that Zuma is the one that needs to put a stop to it.

The Action Group and Afriforum hand-delivered a letter to Zuma's offices at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday.

In the letter, the groups call for Zuma to investigate the fracking process and to speak to South Africans about the matter before issuing exploration licences.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers deep within the earth.

Activists have raised concerns about the process as it uses vast quantities of water as well as chemicals which could contaminate surface and underground water.

If Zuma fails to address the matter, the two organisations say they'll approach Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. Failing this, they will go to the high court.