Case Decision - 190505

Final Comment
It must be reiterated that SAHRA cannot comment on sections of the Brandvalley WEF facility located within the Western Cape Province. Comments must be sought from Heritage Western Cape (HWC) for those sections.
The SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit accepts the submitted HIA and PIA promotes the respective recommendations included in the reports pertaining to the Northern Cape sections of the proposed development. The following additional conditions must be included in the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr):

If the layout of the turbines, roads and other associated infrastructure proposed for the Northern Cape section of the development is altered, a heritage walk-down including a palaeontological walk-down must be conducted prior to construction. A Walk-Down report must be submitted to SAHRA for comment. No construction may commence without comments from SAHRA; 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, 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.

Additionally, all outstanding appendices from the Draft EIA must be uploaded to the case file, along with the final EIA and EMPr once completed. SAHRA must be informed if the Environmental Authorisation for the project is granted and the relevant documents should be uploaded to the case file.