What the frack? Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, has emerged as a contentious method for extracting natural gas and oil from deep underground rock formations. Is it allowed in South Africa? By Mandy Hattingh and Trevana Moodley Let’s just say some see it has a fracking hell. Fracking involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into shale or coal beds to release trapped and previously inaccessible hydrocarbon energy resources.