Final Minutes
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Zitholele Consulting Reg. No. 2000/000392/07 PO Box 6002 Halfway House 1685, South Africa Building 1, Maxwell Office Park, Magwa Crescent West c/o Allandale Road & Maxwell Drive, Waterfall City, Midrand Tel + (27) 11 207 2060 Fax + (27) 86 674 6121 Basic Assessment (BA) and Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) for the proposed upgrading of the 66kV network to 132kV network in the Kuruman area, Northern Cape Province (DEA Ref.: 14/12/16/3/3/1/1376) BAGA JANTJIE TRADITIONAL COUNCIL CONSULTATION Wednesday, 11 February 2015, 11h00 Baga Jantjie Traditional Council Offices, Manyeding Village Final Minutes Note: These minutes are a summary of the presentation made to the Tribal Council Members and the comments / questions / concerns raised by the Tribal Council Members and are not verbatim. List of abbreviations: BA Basic Assessment BJTC Baga Jantjie Tribal Council CoGHSTA Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs 1. WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND APOLOGIES Zitholele Consulting was introduced by Mr Mmusinyane (Manager -Traditional Affairs) to the Baga Jantjie Traditional Council (BJTC) as the independent Environmental Consultants conducting the Basic Assessment and Public Participation processes for the project that will be presented. Thereafter a warm welcome was extended by Mr MD Ilanka (BJTC) as well as the Honourable Kgosi Jantjie (Chief – BJTC). Tricia Njapha (Public Participation Practitioner, Zitholele Consulting, briefly introduced herself and Dr Mathys Vosloo, Project Manager, and gave a brief summary of their role in the proposed project and then continued to brief the BJTC of the purpose of the Consultation. It was agreed by all present that the information provided by Zitholele Consulting will be presented in English and will be translated during the meeting into Tswana by Mr Boitshoko Moacwi. It was further agreed that the same process will be followed during the discussion and question session. The Tribal Council members were informed that they are most welcome to ask questions in ZITHOLELE CONSULTING Kgosi Baga Jantjie Traditional Council Consultation Final Minutes - 2 - Project No: 13167 the language of their choice and the responses will be provided by the team in English, which will be translated into Setswana. Please refer to Appendix A for the Attendance Record and the apologies received. 2. OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING Mr Mmusinyane (CoGHSTA) to introduce the Zitholele project team to the BJTC; Inform the BJTC of the background, need and status of the proposed development; Brief overview of the various corridors investigated to date; The Public Participation Process to be followed in consulting with the communities within the Tribal Council’s jurisdiction; To record Tribal Council members’ comments/concerns and inputs raised at the meeting; and Way forward in terms of the upcoming public meetings. 3. PRESENTATION / INFORMATION SESSION Mathys Vosloo, Zitholele Consulting, presented a brief background of the proposed project by informing the attendees that Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd (Eskom) is proposing to upgrade the existing 66kV network to a 132kV network between Hotazel, Kuruman and Kathu. As such Eskom has appointed Zitholele Consulting as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the required Basic Assessment (BA) process and Integrated Water Use Licence Application (WULA) for the above mentioned proposed project. By making use of a colour project locality map, the two (2) corridor alternatives that will be assessed were pointed out in relation to where the communities are located within the BJTC area. Mathys Vosloo pointed out that the upgrade of the existing 66kV network to a 132kV network will run from Hotazel Substation, through Eldoret, Riries, Gamohaan (proposed new substation) Mothibistat (currently a Switching station but a new substation will be constructed), Moffat (south of Kuruman) Substations to Valley Substation (on the farm Strelley, West of Kuruman). From Valley Substation a new 132kV network will be constructed to the new Sekgame Switching Station (West of Kathu). This meeting forms part of the public participation process and through this process Zitholele Consulting are identifying possibly affected communities, landowners and environmental sensitive areas that need to be taken into consideration in deciding which corridor will have the least impact on the environment. Due to time constraints of the BJTC Tricia Njapha briefly explained the Public Participation Process which would be undertaken during the Basic Assessment process and called on the BJTC to assist the team with guidance on conducting the Public Meetings in terms of which communities to consult in groups and where to host the Public Meetings. The BJTC was also informed that the Public Meetings would explain in detail the technical aspects of the proposed project and Public Participation Process followed during the Basic Assessment process. ZITHOLELE CONSULTING Kgosi Baga Jantjie Traditional Council Consultation Final Minutes - 3 - Project No: 13167 The map presented at the meeting is attached as Appendix B 4. DISCUSSIONS 4.1. Mr B Moacwi, Resident - BJTC Community: Are there areas where the community will be directly affected by either of the proposed corridors? Mathys Vosloo, Zitholele Consulting: The possible areas likely to be directly affected are Mamorato; Motsweding an d Mothibistad. Zitholele Consulting will provide feedback to the community during the Draft Basic Assessment Report (DBAR) phase. At that stage the team will have more finality regarding the proposed corridors. 4.2 Mr B Moacwi, Resident - BJTC Community: Informed the project team that they have had major problems in the past with lack of Consultation for a previous network upgrade. What assurance can be given that this project will not be the same? Mathys Vosloo: The team is currently conducting landowner consultation along the proposed corridors and will continue its consultation process by holding Public Meetings to inform communities, residents and possibly affected landowners of the Basic Assessment process. 4.3 Mr B Moacwi, Resident - BJTC Community: Are there any job opportunities for members of the community on this project? Mathys Vosloo: Eskom will indicate whether there are opportunities for jobs. Usually jobs may only be available during the construction phase but this is usually limited to contractors contracted by Eskom. Eskom will be at the Public Meetings to represent themselves and answer these types of questions. 4.4 Mr B Moacwi, Resident - BJTC Community: The BJTC are aware that this will be the case and current contractors will have first preference to jobs during and post construction. The BJTC’s concern is whether outsiders will be considered before the community members. Tricia Njapha: Thank the BJTC member for his valuable comment and that it has been noted. 4.5 Mr MD Ilanka, Resident - BJTC Community: When will construction commence? Mathys Vosloo: The Basic Assessment process may take about 7 months before the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) can grant an Environmental Authorisation. It is envisaged that construction will commence late next year (2016) or perhaps towards the earlier half of 2017. 4.5 Mr MD Ilanka, Resident - BJTC Community: Will Zitholele Consulting still be available around at that time? Mathys Vosloo: The BJTC can voice their concerns during the Basic Assessment process period but as soon as the DEA issue the Environmental Authorisation , Zitholele Consulting is no longer involved in the project. 4.7 Mr T Teteme, Resident & Ward Councillor - BJTC Community: The BJTC have noticed that there are many shacks erected in Mothibistad which belong to one family but these shacks are all not enlisted under the family’s name and they are receiving extra free electricity (by default) from Eskom. ZITHOLELE CONSULTING Kgosi Baga Jantjie Traditional Council Consultation Final Minutes - 4 - Project No: 13167 Mathys Vosloo: This comment has been noted and will be directed to Eskom. 4.6 Ms MM Molopi, Resident - BJTC Community: What about the people of the communities living near the sub stations? Will they receive electricity? Mathys Vosloo: The purpose of this project is to upgrade the existing lines and improve the substations for a better electricity supply. Electricity will not be able to be drawn directly from the 132kV power line. 4.9 Kgosi Baga Jantjie, BJTC Chief: Where about will the monopoles be placed? Mathys Vosloo: The purpose of this project is to upgrade the existing lines and improve the substations for a better electricity supply. The structures will be placed within the identified 1km corridor. 4.7 Kgosi Baga Jantjie, BJTC Chief: The BJTC has noticed that there has been some bush clearance in some places like near the Red Sands Lodge. Will the monopoles come through land owned by the BJTC? Mathys Vosloo: If the preferred corridor runs through the land owned by the Traditional Council, then monopoles will be on the property owned by the Traditional Council. 4.8 Kgosi Baga Jantjie, BJTC Chief: What will be the case should the proposed corridor be obstructed by a shack? Mathys Vosloo: Eskom’s quantity surveyor will identify a technical feasible route within the 1km corridor and Eskom tries to avoid infrastructures as far as possible. The 31m servitude (within the 1km corridor may be moved slightly to accommodate the location of the shack. 5. The Baga Jantjie Traditional Council (Kgosi Baga Jantjie) raised several suggestions with regards to the Public