Kangra Coal (Pty) Ltd: Proposed Block H Opencast

Block H Opencast is located on the north-eastern boundary of the Kusipongo mining right within the Mkhondo Local Municipality and within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. The proposed Block H Opencast mining site is relatively small in relation to larger mining right area and other Kangra Coal mining operations. The larger mining operation is referred to the Kusipongo Mining Operation. This application deals with a very limited open cast mining activity (9 ha over 6 months) within the broader Kusipongo Mining Operation.
Six sites were identified during the study. However, only three sites are considered to be potentially sensitive from a heritage perspective (B01, F01, F02). Site B01 was identified on the 1938 aerial image as a feature and confirmed to be a circular stone-walled enclosure during the pedestrian survey. Site F01 was identified during the pedestrian survey as a rectangular stone-walled enclosure located close to Site B01. Due to the close proximity of the sites, the angular shape of Site F01 and similar building styles, it is likely that the sites are associated with each other and date to the Historic Period. Since the sites exceed 60 years of age and are therefore protected by the NHRA (Act No. 25 of 1999), the sites are considered to be significant from a heritage perspective.
Site F02 consists of a stone cairn and nearby undiagnostic potsherds in close proximity to Sites B01 and F01. Since stone cairns often indicate the location of graves, and since one of the members of the local community seems to have indicated the presence of a grave in the vicinity of the study area, it is likely that Site F02 is a grave. Should this be the case, the Human Tissues Act (65 of 1983) and Ordinance on the Removal of Graves and Dead Bodies (Ordinance 7 of 1925), as well as the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) would apply. The site is therefore considered to be potentially sensitive and significant from a heritage perspective.
Sites F03 – F05 consist of contemporary boreholes. One of the sites, F03, was sealed with cement. These sites do not exceed 60 years and are not considered to be significant from a heritage perspective.

Province(s): Mpumalanga