Case Decision - 193397

Interim CommentDue to the Highly sensitive nature of the region, SAHRA requires that a detailed HIA is undertaken by a suitably qualified Heritage Specialist in terms section 38(3) of the NHRA. The Heritage Specialist must facilitate the undertaking of the following heritage specialist reports that must be components of the HIA report: An assessment of the Historical Built Environment and a cultural landscape assessment must be undertaken by a historical built environment specialist or a historical architect.All Visual Impacts to the three (3) declared provincial sites and any sites that form part of the Nzhelele and Dzata cultural landscape must also form part of the HIA.An Archaeological Impact Assessment must be undertaken by a suitably qualified archaeologist.A Palaeontological Impact Assessment must also be undertaken by a suitably qualified palaeontologist.All these reports must be submitted to the relevant case on SAHRIS, and a summary of the reports included in the HIA report along with an assessment of the cumulative impacts to the heritage resources. Furthermore, the HIA must consider the results of the Public Consultation, as well as the Social Impact Assessment relation to the identified heritage resources as per the requirements of section 38(3) of the NHRA. The HIA must consider the results of the Air Quality assessment and the VIA to assess the long term impacts to the surrounding rock art sites within the Soutpansberg.SAHRA will comment further once all the reports are submitted to the case.