Interim CommentThe South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit cannot provide comments on this development because there was no detailed impact assessement of the potential impacts to the Very Highly Significant sites located in the Makapans Valley, that form part of the Makapansgat National Heritage Site and World Heritage Site.The Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) mentions that the closest mine right area border is located just over 5 km away from Makapans Valley, although there will be low to no impact/visual exposure of the mine on the valley. The summary of the blasting assessment makes no mention of potential impacts to the cave system in the makapans valley.The HIA mentions the site is 20 km away from the mine right area.SAHRA requires the HIA report to be amended to include an impact assessment of the Makapans Valley including potential impacts to the sites Outstanding Universal Values as defined by UNESCO's guidelines. To include the results of the blasting assessment and VIA into an overall impact assessment on heritage resources including Makapansgat.
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