Archaeological Screening Excavations of Potential Graves Located in Areas Prioritised for Infrastructure Expansion and Opencast Operations on the Farms Diamand and Wintersveld 417 KS in the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality, Limpopo

Bokoni Platinum Mines commenced operations in 2020 after obtaining the licence to operate. The mine is expanding its surface operations with the planned construction of a tailings storage facility and opencast operations on portions of the Farms Diamand 422 KS and Wintersveld 417 KS. This puts on the spotlight sites identified as sensitive in heritage surveys undertaken in 2023 (PHS Heritage 2023, Vollenhoven 2023, Matenga 2024). All the studies recommended further investigations, which has prompted Phase III studies, i.e. archaeological screening excavations of twelve sites flagged as potential graves. Bokoni Platinum has compiled a provisional inventory of all known Burial Grounds and graves in the Mine Lease Areas. The sites targeted for investigation fall outside this category and are problematic because there is no oral or documentary information about them. A majority of the sites are stone structures of a type usually called cairns or linear settings. The possibility that they may be graves brings into focus public sensibilities on the sanctity of graves and human remains.