Case Decision - 355550

Final Decision

The SAHRA Development Applications Unit (DAU) notes and accepts the submission of the Heritage reassessment report for sites MMH17, MMH25, MMH26, MMH146, MMH151, MMH16, MMH19-21, MMH24, and MMH27-28. 

SAHRA has no objections to the proposed new amended significance ratings for the aforementioned sites and the proposed mitigation measures on the following conditions:

• 38(4)a – The SAHRA Development Applications Unit (DAU) has no objections to the proposed development;
• 38(4)b – The recommendations provided by the heritage specialists are supported and must be adhered to;
• 38(4)c(i) – If any evidence of archaeological sites or remains (e.g. remnants of stone-made structures, indigenous ceramics, bones, stone artefacts, ostrich eggshell fragments, charcoal and ash concentrations), fossils or other categories of heritage resources are found during the proposed development, SAHRA DAU (Nokukhanya Khumalo/Natasha 021 202 8660) must be alerted as per section 35(3) of the NHRA. Non-compliance with section of the NHRA is an offence in terms of section 51(1)e of the NHRA and item 5 of the Schedule;
• 38(4)c(ii) – If unmarked human burials are uncovered, the SAHRA DAU (Nokukhanya Khumalo/Natasha 021 202 8660), must be alerted immediately as per section 36(6) of the NHRA. Non-compliance with section of the NHRA is an offence in terms of section 51(1)e of the NHRA and item 5 of the Schedule;
• 38(4)d – See section 51(1) of the NHRA;
• 38(4)e – The following conditions apply with regards to the appointment of specialists:
• i) If heritage resources are uncovered during the course of the development, a professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contracted as soon as possible to inspect the heritage resource. If the newly discovered heritage resources prove to be of archaeological or palaeontological significance, a Phase 2 rescue operation may be required subject to permits issued by SAHRA;
• This comment must be forwarded to the competent authority;
• The decision regarding the amended EMPr must be communicated to SAHRA and uploaded to the SAHRIS Case application.