Case Decision - 360793

Final Comment

The following comments are made as a requirement in terms of section 38(8) of the NHRA in the format provided in section 38(4) of the NHRA and must be included in the Final EIA and EMPr:

• 38(4)a – The SAHRA Development Applications Unit (DAU) has no objections to the proposed development;
• 38(4)b – The recommendations of the specialists are supported and must be adhered to. Further additional specific conditions are provided for the development as follows:
• The structures at TPL001 and TPL002 to be avoided by a 30m buffer demarcated buffer during construction. 
• Considering the risk of unmarked stillborn burials at TPL002a and TPL002c stakeholder engagement with is required with affected parties to discuss whether any potential graves are in/ around the structures. 
• If no affected parties are identified and the presence of human remains cannot be confirmed, a section 35 archaeological test excavations permit from SAHRA must be applied for to determine the presence of human remains.
• 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 (Nokusho Ngobeni/ Natasha Higgitt 021 202 8660) must be alerted as per section 35(3) of the NHRA. Non-compliance with this section of the NHRA is an offense 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 (Nokusho Ngobeni/ Natasha Higgitt 021 202 8660) must be alerted immediately as per section 36(6) of the NHRA. Non-compliance with this section of the NHRA is an offense 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 regarding offences;
• 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;
• The Final EIA must be submitted to the SAHRIS application for record purposes;
• The decision regarding the EA application must be submitted to the SAHRIS application for record purposes.