DEVELOPMENT OF 3 BORROW PITS AS PART OF THE SPECIAL MAINTENANCE OF PRIMARY ROAD P30/1 BETWEEN SASOLBURG AND KOPPIES

The Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport has undertaken to rehabilitate
the provincial roads throughout its area of their jurisdiction. This project started in 2013. The objective
is to ameliorate the condition of the roads while creating job opportunities for the people of
communities and empowering local contractors. The road from Koppies to Sasolburg(P30/1) was
identified by the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport as a key route that requires
special maintenance as the road is in a dire condition and a safety risk to all road users. The road
rehabilitation activities planned are base patching, surface patching, edge break repairs, creak seal,
cape seal surfacing followed by fog spray.
The Koppies to Sasolburg(P30/1) road maintenance project and the 3 Borrow Pit developments are
located between the towns of Koppies and Sasolburg in the Free State province, within the Fezile Dabi
District Municipality and the Ngwathe Local Municipality
The proposed special maintenance of the P30/1 road is of strategic importance to the Free State
Province. The upgrading of the P30/1 is aimed at accelerating economic growth and development in
the designated regions of the province, through an increase in the safety of the flow and ease of
transportation on the route.
EnviroMatrix (Pty) Ltd, an Environmental Management Company has been appointed as Independent
Environmental Consultants by the Department of Community Safety Roads and Transport, as part to
undertake the Mining Environmental Authorisation application as part of the overall project
authorisations process. The Mining Authorisation application for the borrow pits excavation and
closure is governed by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002
(MPRDA) and will be submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources with their offices in Welkom.
However, as an organ of state and the Department of Community Safety Roads and Transport has
obtained exemption from the provisions of sections 16, 20, 22 and 27 (application process) of the
MPRDA in respect of any activity to remove any material for the construction and maintenance of
dams, harbours, roads and railway lines and for the purposes incidental thereto, as allowed by the
said act in section 106 (1) as published in GN R762 in GG 26501 of 25 June 2004. As such the utilisation
of resources is subject only to the preparation of document in accordance with the requirements of
National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and its Regulations.
Amended Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 (GN R982 in GG 38382 of 4 December
2014: National Environmental Management Act (107/1998): Environmental Impact Assessment
Regulations, 2014 (GN 982) that regulate the environmental authorisation process, list activities that
may not commence without Environmental Authorisation from the Competent Authority as in the
following regulations:
• GN R983 in GG 38382 of 4 December 2014: Listing notice 1: List of activities and competent
authorities identified in terms of sections 24 (2) and 24 D (GN R983)
• GN R984 in GG 38382 of 4 December 2014: Listing notice 2: List of activities and competent
authorities identified in terms of sections 24 (2) and 24 D (GN R984)• GN R985 in GG 38382 of 4 December 2014: Listing notice 3: List of activities and competent
authorities identified in terms of sections 24 (2) and 24 D (GN R985)
It is anticipated that the planned Borrow Pit development will trigger the following activities:
GN R983 in GG 38382 of 4 December 2014: Listing notice 1: List of activities and competent
authorities identified in terms of sections 24 (2) and 24 D (GN R983) as amended:
• Activity 21; operation which requires a mining permit.
• Activity 27; Clearance of an area (< 20Ha) of indigenous vegetation
GN R985 in GG 38382 of 4 December 2014: Listing notice 3: List of activities and competent
authorities identified in terms of sections 24 (2) and 24 D (GN R985) for the Free State:
• Activity 12; Clearance of 300m² indigenous vegetation within a critical biodiversity area
A Mining Environmental Authorisation is proposed for the development of the five borrow pits. Thus,
that an Environmental Impact Assessment is proposed to be conducted for the project together with
two specialist studies – an Ecological Specialist Study (including wetland assessment) and a Heritage
Impact Assessment.
Province(s): Free State