PERMIT APPLICATION: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MITIGATION AND RELOCATION OF ONE GRAVE (SKM-01/01) FROM THE FARM KLIPFONTEIN 300 JQ, WITHIN THE RUSTENBURG LOCAL MUNICIPALITY AND BOJANALA PLATINUM DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE

PGS Heritage (Pty) Ltd (PGS) has been appointed by the Sibanye Stillwater Kroondal Mine (Sibanye) to affect the mitigation and relocation of one archaeological grave located on the farm Klipfontein 300 JQ, within the Rustenburg Local Municipality and Bojanala District Municipality of the North West Province. According to information provided by Sibanye, the grave was accidentally disturbed on Friday, 10 September 2021, during the site preparation and excavation of a raised borehole site known as the Bambanani Raise-Bore Terrace Es-09 Upcast Shaft.
The mine immediately stopped all work at the site and contacted the SAPS. The SAPS Forensic Unit was subsequently instructed to assess the exposed grave. They concluded that the exposed burial was not crime-related and advised the mine to contact an archaeologist. Sibanye contacted PGS on Saturday, 11 September 2021, and a site visit was conducted by a team comprising two archaeologists from PGS on Monday, 13 September 2021. The site visit concluded that the grave is associated with a Late Iron Age stonewalled site. Based on the available information, the grave can therefore be identified as of archaeological association. PGS was subsequently appointed to undertake the relocation of the grave, with Sibanye responsible for the stakeholder engagement.
At the time of the site visit, the skeletal remains and cultural material believed to be associated with the disturbed grave were collected and covered again with soil. As per the instruction of PGS, security was also placed at the site.