Case Decision - 187609

Final CommentBased on the available information, SAHRA has no objection to the proposed mining on condition that;- The 'Sensitivity Approach Alternative' proceeds- Any formal or informal burial grounds on the property are left in situ and fenced with a 20m no-go buffer zone, these include Sites PP002, PP003, PP004, PP005, PP010, PP016, PP028 and PP031. A Conservation Management Plan must be incorporated into the EMP to ensure the effective management of these sites into the future. If any of these formal or informal burial grounds cannot be avoided by the mining activities, a permit for their formal exhumation must be applied for with the SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves Unit in terms of Section 36 of the NHRA. This process requires extensive community consultation.- The burials located within 3.5km from the epicentre of the proposed mine, need to be monitored regularly to assess possible damage from the mining.- The ruins of unused structures older than 100 years identified in the report have limited archaeological significance and no further mitigation for these sites is required. These include Sites PP008, PP009, PP018, PP019, PP020, PP023, PP024, PP025 and PP027. Please note, however, that unmarked infant burials are often associated with ruins of mudbrick homesteads and must be monitored for at Sites PP015, PP016, PP021, PP022, PP026, PP029 and PP032.- The industrial archaeological resources identified as Sites PP012, PP013 and PP017 should be left in situ with a buffer zone of 20m. These sites provide an opportunity to learn more about South Africa's mining heritage, and in turn provide an educational tool.- The possible rock art at Site PP014 is investigated by a specialist if the area is going to be impacted by the mining. SAHRA in unable to determine how to proceed with this resource as insufficient information has been provided. If no rock art is identified, no further mitigation is required.- Due to the likely impact to significant palaeontological heritage, the mine must establish a monitoring schedule with a palaeontologist for the regular inspection of activities.- Any impact to recently occupied structures older than 60 years requires a permit from the Mpumalanga Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (MPHRA) in terms of Section 34 of the NHRA.- If any evidence of archaeological sites or remains (e.g., remnants of stone-made structures, indigenous ceramics, bones, stone artefacts, ostrich eggshell fragments, marine shell and charcoal/ash concentrations), unmarked human burials, fossils or other categories of heritage resources are found during the proposed activities, SAHRA APM Unit (Jenna Lavin/Colette Scheermeyer 021 462 4502) must be alerted immediately, and a professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contacted as soon as possible to inspect the findings. If the newly discovered heritage resources prove to be of archaeological or palaeontological significance a Phase 2 rescue operation might be necessary.