Impala Platinum Mine Slr Consulting (Africa) (Ltd)
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Prepared for: IMPALA PLATINUM MINE SLR CONSULTING (AFRICA) (LTD) A PHASE I HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR FLEASE’S PROPOSED PROSPECTING AREAS ON THE FARM HARTBEESPOORT B 410JQ TO THE WEST OF MADIBENG IN THE NORTH-WEST PROVINCE Prepared by: Dr Julius CC Pistorius Archaeologist and Heritage Consultant 352 Rosemary Street Lynnwood 0081 PO Box 1522 Bela Bela 0480 Tel and fax 0147362115 Cell 0825545449 June 2012 Member ASAPA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A Phase I Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) study as required in terms of Section 38 of the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999) was done for Impala’s proposed prospecting areas on the farm Hartebeespoort B 410JQ near Madibeng in the North-West Province. The aims with the Phase I HIA study were the following, namely: To establish whether any of the types and ranges of heritage resources as outlined in Section 3 of the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999) (Box 1) do occur in the Inkosi and Imbasa Project Area To determine the nature, the extent and the significance of any heritage resources that may occur in the Inkosi and Imbasa Project Area. To outline appropriate mitigation (management) measures for those heritage resources which may be affected by the Inkosi and Imbasa Project. The Phase I HIA study for the Inkosi and Imbasa Project Area revealed some of the heritage resources which are outlined in Section 3 of the National heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999). These heritage resources consist of the following: Single and clusters of stone walled settlements dating from the Late Iron Age in association with the Ga-Tshopje and the Kareepoort Mountain ranges. Historical remains such as the Sonop village as well as individual farms homes which sometimes have associated structures such as tobacco sheds. At least two formal graveyards. These heritage resources were geo-referenced and mapped (Figure 4). Their levels of significance are also indicated as well as general mitigation measures should any of these remains be endangered by exploration activities. The levels of significance of these heritage resources are indicated below. Late Iron Age sites Late Iron Age (stone walled and non-stone walled) sites qualify as archaeological sites, some of which may date from the Historical Period. All archaeological (historical) and paleontological sites are protected by Section 35 of the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999). These site may not be affected (demolished, altered, renovated, removed) before the South African Heritage Resources Authority (SAHRA) has approved such alterations. 2 Historical remains All buildings and structures older than sixty years are protected by Section 34 of the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999) and may not be affected (demolished, altered, renovated, removed) before SAHRA has approved such alterations. Graveyards All graves and graveyards are considered to be of high significance and are protected by various laws. Legislation with regard to graves includes the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999) whenever graves are older than sixty years. The act also distinguishes various categories of graves and burial grounds. Other legislation with regard to graves includes those which apply when graves are exhumed and relocated, namely the Ordinance on Exhumations (No 12 of 1980) and the Human Tissues Act (No 65 of 1983 as amended). Graveyards are usually mitigated in two ways depending whether they are affected, directly or indirectly, namely: By means of exhumation and relocation when affected directly. The exhumation of human remains and the relocation of graveyards are regulated by various laws, regulations and administrative procedures. This task is undertaken by forensic archaeologists or by reputed undertakers who are acquainted with all the administrative procedures and relevant legislation that have to be adhered to whenever human remains are exhumed and relocated. This process also includes social consultation with a 60 days statutory notice period for graves older than sixty years. Permission for the exhumation and relocation of human remains have to be obtained from the descendants of the deceased (if known), the National Department of Health, the Provincial Department of Health, the Premier of the Province and the local police. Graveyards can be demarcated with brick walls or with fences when they are not affected in any physical way (but only indirectly). Conserving graveyards in situ (e.g. in mining areas) create the risk and responsibility that they may be damaged, accidentally, that the mine remains responsible for its future unaffected existence, maintenance and that controlled access must exist for any relatives or friends who wish to visit the deceased. It is possible that heritage resources may be affected (alter, destroy, remove) during the Impala Project as a result of the following consequences: 3 Accidental damage may occur to heritage resources in close proximity of project activities. Deliberate (planned) damaged to heritage resources in close proximity of project activities that have to be affected (altered, removed destroyed) in order to obtain satisfactory exploration results. Deliberate (planned) damage to heritage resources would probably not occur as project activities can be manipulated or adapted in order to avoid known heritage resources. However, if heritage resources have to be affected mitigation measures for heritage resources can be determined and executed, if approved by the authorities, prior to exploration activities being undertaken. Heritage resources are non-renewal and once affected (alter, demolish, remove) can never be restored. The results of impacts therefore are permanent and impacts on heritage resources, notwithstanding when legally approved by the authorities, must be avoided at all costs. Possible impacts on heritage resources The following guidelines are recommended for the proposed exploration activities in order to minimise any possible impact on heritage resources in the Inkosi and Imbasa Project Area. These mitigation measures are divided into guidelines that must be applied to specific sites where possible clashes between heritage resources and exploration activities may occur and general guidelines which must be applied throughout the exploration survey. Mitigating guidelines for archaeological zones (cultural landscapes) It is clear from Figure 4 that the majority of heritage resources that were identified occur in and near the Ga-Tshopje and the Kareepoort Mountain ranges which represents the largest part of the Inkosi and Imbasa Project Area. The majority of heritage sites in this area comprises of stone walled settlements which date from the Late Iron Age and the Historical Period. Some of these sites occur in clusters which constitute cultural landscapes of some proportions (see Table 1). The following guidelines must be applied to archaeological zones (cultural landscapes) or specific sites with high significance where possible impacts between these heritage resources and exploration activities may occur. Archaeological zones with high concentrations of stone walled sites are indicated in Table 1 (also see Figure 4). These cultural landscapes have high potential for possible impact with exploration activities. It is recommended that the following mitigation measures be applied at these archaeological zones with high significance, namely: 4 Sensitive archaeological zones and sites must be visited before exploration activities commence. Exploration activities must be planned and adapted around these cultural landscapes in such a way that these structures and remains are not affected during the exploration activities. Attempts therefore must be made that satisfactory exploration results are obtained and that heritage resources and cultural landscapes are protected. Appropriate mitigation measures must be applied to heritage resources where exploration activities could not be adapted and heritage resources were affected (altered, demolished, removed) as a result of exploration activities. Authorisation must be obtained from the authorities before any mitigation measures are applied. General mitigating guidelines The following general guidelines have to be adhered to during the onset, conducting and completion of exploration activities, namely: Project personnel: Project personnel should be made aware of the possible presence of the types and ranges of heritage resources that may occur in the Inkosi and Imbasa Project Area. Project personnel must be encouraged to avoid heritage sites and cultural landscapes at all possible costs. The discovery of any heritage sites (not recorded in this survey) must be reported to an environmental officer who again must rapport these discoveries to the archaeologist. Contractors and workers should be informed about the penalties associated with the unlawful removal of cultural, historical and archaeological remains and artefacts associated with heritage sites. It must be emphasised that artefacts such as potsherds, stone tools, grindings stones, etc. must be left un-interfered and in situ. If any heritage resources of significance are exposed as a result of exploration related activities the environmental officer should be notified. Exploration activities have to be stopped and an archaeologist must be notified in order to determine appropriate mitigation measures for the discovered finds. This may include obtaining authorisation (permits) from SAHRA to conduct mitigation measures if any heritage resources