Case Decision - 190117

Final Comment
It must be noted that SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit cannot comment on the portion of the development located within the Western Cape Province. Comments must be sought from Heritage Western Cape (HWC) for those activities. The comments below pertain to the section of the powerline alternative routes located within the Northern Cape Province.
Regarding archaeological and palaeontological heritage resources, the SAHRA APM Unit accepts the submitted HIA and recommendations. The following additional conditions must be adhered to and must form part of the final Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) for the project:

Should the substation and transmission line project be granted Environmental Authorisation, a palaeontologist must be contracted by the applicant to monitor deep excavations i.e. into bedrock during the construction phase. A Monitoring Report must be submitted to SAHRA upon completion; and
If any evidence of archaeological sites or remains (e.g. remnants of stone-made structures, indigenous ceramics, bones, stone artefacts, ostrich eggshell fragments, charcoal and ash concentrations), fossils or other categories of heritage resources are found during the proposed development within the section of the development in the Northern Cape Province, SAHRA APM Unit (Natasha Higgitt/Phillip Hine 021 462 5402) must be alerted. If unmarked human burials are uncovered, the SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves (BGG) Unit (Itumeleng Masiteng/Mimi Seetelo 012 320 8490), must be alerted immediately. A professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contracted 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 may be required.