RELOCATION OF TWO (2) GRAVES FROM PORTION 1 OF THE FARM DE WITTEKRANS 218 IS, NEAR HENDRINA, WITHIN THE GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY AND THE DR CHIEF ALBERT LUTHULI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, IN THE MPUMALANGA PROVINCE

PGS Heritage has been appointed by Mashala Hendrina Coal Pty (Ltd) to effect the relocation of graves located on Portion 1 of the farm De Wittekrans 218 IS, near Hendrina, in the Mpumalanga Province. This application deals with two graves which will be affected by mining activities within the De Wittekrans project area. The stakeholder engagement process, to identify the closest next of kin for the graves, commenced on 27 May 2024. During the stakeholder engagement, a family came forward who identified a new location where the graves are located within the project area. An initial permit application was submitted to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to conduct a Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey and Test Excavations (TE) to confirm the presence of two sets of remains buried at the location as indicated by the Maseko family, as per request from the client (Mashala Hendrina Coal).

The permits for these tests were awarded by SAHRA under PermitID: 4198, CaseID: 23082. The GPR survey was conducted on Wednesday, 16 April 2025, with the families withdrawing their consent for TE to be performed, as they did not want to expose the remains only to cover them up again and come back later to conduct the relocation. The GPR data indicated an anomaly in the area identified by the next-of-kin that is consistent in appearance with what is typically a burial in GPR imagery. Thus, this application refers to the exhumation and relocation of the two graves. The graves are to be moved to existing formal cemeteries or traditional informal areas as selected by the next-of-kin. We will be assisted on this project by local service providers.