Specialist Report
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SPECIALIST REPORT PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL / HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED EXTENSION OF PIET RETIEF EXTENSION 6, ON THE REMAINDER OF PORTION 1 OF PIET RETIEF TOWN AND TOWNLANDS 149HT, MKHONDO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY MPUMALANGA PROVINCE REPORT COMPILED FOR REPORT COMPILED FOR CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Ms. ANNE-MARI WHITE Cell: 0608781591 / e-mail: [email protected] FEBRUARY 2021 ADANSONIA HERITAGE CONSULTANTS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGISTS C. VAN WYK ROWE e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0828719553 / Fax: 0867151639 P.O. BOX 75, PILGRIM'S REST, 1290 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A Phase 1 Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) regarding archaeological and other cultural heritage resources was conducted on the footprint for an extension of the township boundary of Piet Retief Extension 6 on the remainder of portion 1 of PIET RETIEF TOWN & TOWNLANDS 149-HT, Mkhondo Local Municipality, in the Mpumalanga Province. The study area is situated on topographical map 1:50 000, 2730BB (Piet Retief). This area falls under the jurisdiction of the Mkhondo Local Municipality, and is located within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. The National Heritage Resources Act, no 25 (1999)(NHRA), protects all heritage resources, which are classified as national estate. The NHRA stipulates that any person who intends to undertake a development, is subjected to the provisions of the Act. The landowner (Mkhondo Local Municipality) in association with the applicant, Mahelane Development Planners propose to extend the township boundary of Piet Retief Extension 6 by 11ha. CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES was appointed as the Environmental Assessment Practitioner to obtain the necessary authorizations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998). The site is divided into three sections for ease of reference. Section 1 in the south has been disturbed by existing gravel road networks, as well as small scale cultivated areas used by the people in the existing township throughout the years, section 2 (east), was entirely disturbed by forestry (currently wattle infestation), and section 3 (north), is partly disturbed by a gravel road network. The rest of section 3 is natural grassland and sloping towards the Klipmesselspruit. There are no rocky outcrops on the site. Adjacent properties to the west and north are the existing Piet Retief (Mkhondo) residential areas, south and east are commercial forestry areas. The survey revealed no archaeological or historical features of significance or graves on the site. It is recommended that the owner be made aware that distinct archaeological material or human remains may only be revealed during construction activities of the proposed development, in which case a qualified archaeologist must do an assessment. Based on the survey and the findings in this report, Adansonia Heritage Consultants state that there are no compelling reasons which may prevent the proposed development to continue. 2 Disclaimer: Although all possible care is taken to identify all sites of cultural significance during the investigation, it is possible that hidden or sub-surface sites could be overlooked during the study. Christine Rowe trading as Adansonia Heritage Consultants will not be held liable for such oversights or for costs incurred by the client as a result. Copyright: Copyright in all documents, drawings and records whether manually or electronically produced, which form part of the submission and any subsequent report or project document shall vest in Christine Rowe trading as Adansonia Heritage Consultants. None of the documents, drawings or records may be used or applied in any manner, nor may they be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever for or to any other person, without the prior written consent of the above. The Client, on acceptance of any submission by Christine Rowe, trading as Adansonia Heritage Consultants and on condition that the Client pays the full price for the work as agreed, shall be entitled to use for its own benefit and for the specified project only: 1) The results of the project; 2) The technology described in any report; 3) Recommendations delivered to the Client. C. Rowe FEBRUARY 2021 3 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 DISCLAIMER 3 A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THE PROJECT 5 • Terms of Reference 6 • Legal requirements 7 B. BACKGROUND TO ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE STUDY AREA 9 • Literature review, museum databases & previous relevant impact assessments 9 C. DESCRIPTION OF AREA TO BE AFFECTED BY DEVELOPMENT 13 D. LOCALITY 17 • Description of methodology 18 • GPS Co-ordinates of perimeters 20 E. DESCRIPTION OF IDENTIFIED SITES 21 F. DISCUSSION ON THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 21 • Summarised identification & cultural significance assessment of affected 22 • Summarised recommended impact management interventions 26 G. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE & EVALUATION OF HERITAGE RESOURCES IN THE STUDY AREA 28 • Evaluation methods 28 • NHRA 28 • Significance & evaluation 28 H. RECOMMENDATION & CONCLUSION 29 REFERENCES 30 MAP 1: 1935 Map of Van Warmelo 11 MAP 2: Google image: Study area within the wider region 14 MAP 3: Google image: Study area, Section 1 15 MAP 4: Google image: Study area and Section 2 16 MAP 5: Google image: Study area and Section 3 16 MAP 6: Google image: Study areas 1, 2 & 3 17 MAP 7: Topographic map 1: 50000 (2730BB) 18 Appendix 1: Google image of Tracks and paths 32 Appendix 2: Photographic documentation 33 4 PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL / HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED EXTENSION OF PIET RETIEF EXTENSION 6, ON THE REMAINDER OF PORTION 1 OF PIET RETIEF TOWN AND TOWNLANDS 149HT, MKHONDO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THE PROJECT The applicant (Mahelane Development Planners), and landowner (Mkhondo Local Municipality), in co-operation Environmental Assessment Practitioner, CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, are proposing to extend the Piet Retief Extension 6 Township boundary with 11ha, in Mkhondo (Piet Retief). 1 The development area is situated on the remainder of portion 1 of PIET RETIEF TOWN & TOWNLANDS 149-HT. This development is compatible to the municipal planning and services infrastructure of this zone and is ideally located on the boundary of the Piet Retief Extension 6 township. The study area is situated on topographical map 1:50 000, 2730BB (Piet Retief). This area falls under the jurisdiction of the Mkhondo Local Municipality, and is located within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. 2 The site is divided into three sections for ease of reference. Section 1 in the south has been disturbed by existing gravel road networks, as well as small scale cultivated areas used by the people in the existing township throughout the years; section 2 (east), was entirely disturbed by forestry (currently wattle infestation); and section 3 to the north, is natural grassland which is partly disturbed by a gravel road network. Section 3 slopes gently towards the Klipmesselspruit, directly to the north. There are no rocky outcrops on the project site. Adjacent properties to the west and north are the existing Piet Retief (Mkhondo) residential areas, south and east are commercial forestry plantations. Adansonia Heritage Consultants were appointed by CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES to conduct a Phase 1 heritage impact assessment (HIA) on archaeological and other heritage resources on the study area. A literature review, relevant to the study area as well as a foot 1 CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, Background Information Document, January 2021, p. 1. 2 CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, Background Information Document, January 2021, p. 1. 5 survey was done, to determine that no archaeological or heritage resources will be impacted upon (See map 7: Topographical Map: 2730BB (1987). The aims of this report are to source all relevant information on archaeological and heritage resources in the study area, and to advise the client on sensitive heritage areas as well as where it is viable for the development to take place in terms of the specifications as set out in the National Heritage Resources Act no., 25 of 1999 (NHRA). Recommendations for maximum conservation measures for any heritage resources will also be made. The study area is indicated in Maps 2 - 7, and Appendix 1 & 2. • This study forms part of an EIA, Consultant: CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, Ms. Anne- Mari White, Cell: 060 878 1591 / e-mail: [email protected] • EIA / Scoping Report & Plan of study for EIA is in process; • Type of development: Township Development on 11ha on the remainder of portion 1 of PIET RETIEF TOWN & TOWNLANDS 149-HT, adjacent to the town of Mkhondo (Piet Retief), Mpumalanga Province. • The current land use is vacant sections (with a fragment of natural grassland to the north), and forestry to the east. The land is zoned as agriculture and will be rezoned to a residential area. 3 • Location of Province, Magisterial district / Local Authority and Property (farms): The area falls within the Mpumalanga Province under the jurisdiction of the Mkhondo Local Municipality, and is located within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. • Land owner: Mkhondo Local Municipality and Applicant, Mahelane Development Planners. 4 Terms of reference: As specified by section 38 (3) of the NHRA, the following information is provided in this report. a) The identification and mapping of heritage resources where applicable; b) Assessment of the significance of the heritage resources; c) Alternatives given to affected heritage resources by the development; d) Plans for measures of mitigation. 3 PERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Ms. A-M White (EAP), 2021-02-08. 4 CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, Background Information Document, January 2021, p. 1. 6 Legal requirements: The legal context of the report is grounded in the National Heritage Resources Act no. 25, 1999, as well as the National Environmental Management Act (1998) (NEMA): • In terms of Government Notice R546, a basic Environmental Impact Assessment is required in terms of the following listed activities: 1) Activities associated with township establishment (Scoping & EIA); 2) Activities associated with the construction of services & pipelines to town (Basic EIA).