HERITAGE SCOPING REPORT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF FOUR BORROW PITS IN THE SETSOTO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY FREE STATE PROVINCE Report prepared for: Report prepared by: ENVIROMATRIX Environmental Services Consultants eThembeni Cultural Heritage P O Box 2580 P O Box 20057 BETHLEHEM ASHBURTON 9700 3213 15 January 2020 Executive Summary eThembeni Cultural Heritage was appointed by ENVIROMATRIX Environmental Management Services to undertake a Heritage Impact Scoping of the proposed development of four (4) Borrow Pits in the Setsoto Local Municipality in the Free State Province. This as required by the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), as amended; and in compliance with Section 38 of the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999 (NHRA), as amended. Assessment of development impact The proposed four borrow pits described will have a low impact on heritage resources if the proposed mitigation measures appealed for below are adhered to. Recommended mitigation measures Archaeological sites Apart from the archaeological and rock art shelter at Clocolan, which lies outside of the sphere of influence of the proposed borrow pit, no other archaeological residues of significance were observed. Palaeontological deposits No likely impacts due to the dolerite intrusions into the overlying sedimentary horizons at the respective sites. Graves and cemeteries None observed. Should any graves be located during the establishment and / or operation of the borrow pits mitigation will have to be done by an ASAPA accredited grave specialist, under a permit and protocols issued by SAHRA under a separate Phase 2 mitigation programme. Recommended monitoring Only at the Clocolan Borrow Pit site, with regard to the archaeological residues located within and without the rock shelter CONCLUSION We recommend that the borrow pit developments proceed with the proposed heritage mitigations being part of the anticipated Record of Decision (R.o.D); and will submit this report electronically via SAHRIS1 to SAHRA2, in fulfilment of the requirements of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA). If permission is granted for development to proceed, the client is reminded that the NHRA requires that a developer cease all work immediately and adhere to the protocol described in Appendix 1 of this report should any heritage resources, as defined in the Act, be discovered during the course of development activities. 1 SAHRIS – South African Heritage Resources Inventory System 2 SAHRA – South African Heritage Resources Agency as established in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, 25 of 1999 (NHRA), as amended. INDEPENDENT HERITAGE SPECIALIST Consultant: eThembeni Cultural Heritage Contact person: Leonard van Schalkwyk Physical address: 7 Dely Crescent, Ashburton Postal address: PO Box 20057, Ashburton, 3213 Telephone: 0826559077 Fax: 086 672 8557 Email [email protected] DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE I, Leonard van Schalkwyk, declare that I act as the independent specialist in this application. I will perform the work relating to the application in an objective manner even if this results in views and findings that are not favourable to the applicant. I declare that there are no circumstances that may compromise my objectivity in performing such work. I have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity. I undertake to disclose to the applicant and the competent authority all material information in my possession that reasonably has or may have the potential of influencing any decision to be taken with respect to the application by the competent authority; and the objectivity of any report, plan or document to be prepared by myself for submission to the competent authority. Signed: Date: 27 January 2020 Introduction Setsoto Local Municipality intends to establish and legalise four borrow pits, one located at each of the towns of Senekal, Marquard, Clocolan and Ficksburg. The objective is to provide good quality filling and cover material for the Municipality Roads and Stormwater Department for future maintenance and expansion projects. EnviroMatrix, an Environmental Management Company, has been appointed as Independent Environmental Consultants by Setsoto Local Municipality, to undertake the Mining Right application and Environmental Impact Assessments as part of the environmental authorisations process. eThembeni Cultural Heritage was appointed by ENVIROMATRIX Environmental Management Services to undertake a Heritage Impact Scoping of the four proposed borrow pit sites. This in terms the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process as part of the Environmental Authorisation for the proposed borrow pit establishments; as governed by the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), as amended; and in compliance with Section 38 of the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999 as amended (NHRA). Scope of work The scope of work for the project will include the following primary aspects - • Legal compliance and development of a borrow pit at each of the following towns: Senekal, Marquard, Clocolan and Ficksburg. • Excavation of aggregate from the borrow pits; and, • Access roads to the excavation sites. All excavation activities will be undertaken with due cognisance to minimise the impact on the environment and limiting the disruptions to the local community. In respect of the heritage assessment, ENVIROMATRIX required that information must be provided on the following, where applicable, at the respective sites: − Results of the field survey of the study area and the identification of any heritage resources that may be affected by the proposed infrastructure, or which may affect the construction and operation of the proposed infrastructure. − The early identification of any red flag and fatal flaw issues or impacts. − Recommendations on alternatives where additional alternatives could be identified to avoid negative impacts. − Recommended mitigation measures for enhancing positive impacts and avoiding or minimizing negative impacts and risks (to be implemented during design, construction and operation). − Formulation of a protocol or heritage management plan to be followed for the identification, protection or recovery of cultural heritage resources during construction and operation. − Address any other sensitivities and important issues from a specialist perspective that are not identified in these terms of reference. Methodology Appendix 2 describes the methodology employed for this project, which included drive/walkovers of proposed borrow pit areas on 25-27 October 2019, and a desktop study. Appendix 3 also includes heritage resource significance assessment criteria; development impact assessment criteria; and the assumptions and limitations associated with this project and report. 1 1. Project Location and Environmental Description The proposed borrow pits requiring assessment lie respectively outside of the towns of Senekal, Marquard, Clocolan and Ficksburg, within the jurisdiction area of the Setsoto Local Municipality in the Free State Province. The coordinates and property descriptions of the respective borrow pits are as follows: • Ficksburg - 28°54'28.01"S; 27°50'9.27"E FICKSBURG'S DORP GRONDEN 75, SG No: F01200000000007500000 • Clocolan - 28°55'52.50"S; 27°33'34.76"E TRIANGLE 384, SG No: F00800000000038400000 • Marquard - 28°39'22.18"S; 27°26'28.14"E MARQUARD TOWN LANDS 426; SG No: F02300000000042600000 • Senekal - 28°19'5.45"S; 27°35'59.43"E DE RUST 300; SG No: F03000000000030000000 Figure 1 Location of proposed Borrow Pits in Setsoto LM (source: Google Earth). See kml. loaded to SAHRIS Case File. The geology of the study area grades from the Adelaide and Tarkastad sub-group of the Beaufort Formation (Senekal to Marquard) to the Molteno FM of the Karoo Supergroup Clocolan and Ficksburg). These lithologies are palaeontologically sensitive, however, extensive intrusive Karoo dolerite sills or dykes are present at each borrow pit locality, hence their selection as suitable sources of aggregate.3 The borrow pit sites all occur within Eastern Free State Clay Grassland 4 and overall the region consists largely of farmland and open veld; with woody vegetation confined to koppies and drainage lines, or around established farmsteads. 3 See Geotechnical reports uploaded to SAHRIS. 4 Mucina, L. et al. 2006. Vegetation map for South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. SANBI. Pretoria. I. Ficksburg Borrow Pit The borrow pit is situated next to the Mohokare River on the RSA/Lesotho border, some 5,5 km SSW of Ficksburg and 4 km SSW of Meqheleng (see Fig.2) on a property described as FICKSBURG'S DORP GRONDEN 75, SG No: F01200000000007500000. Figure 2 Location of proposed Ficksburg Borrow Pit The site is a previously exploited rock source at the base of a scarp edge adjacent to the Mohokare River. Extensive surface disturbance and stockpiling of overburden during previous aggregate exploitation was clearly observable. The immediate camp around the borrow pit site is used for grazing and the general area is disturbed by intensive ploughed fields for crop production. 1. Description and Significance of Heritage Resources No current quarrying activities associated with the proposed project had begun at the time of our visits. Table 1 summarises the heritage resource types assessed, and our observations. Table 1 Heritage resources types assessed. Heritage resource type Observation Places, buildings, structures and See below. equipment Places associated with oral traditions or None were identified