GREATER SOUTPANSBERG GENERAAL PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME DMR References: LP 30/5/1/2/2/10044 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10045 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10047 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10050 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10053 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10054 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10058 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10069 MR JANUARY 2014 GREATER SOUTPANSBERG GENERAAL PROJECT SECTION 1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME REGULATION 50 PROJECT DETAILS Name of Project Greater Soutpansberg - Generaal Project DMR Reference Numbers LP 30/5/1/2/2/10044 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10045 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10047 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10050 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10053 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10054 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10058 MR LP 30/5/1/2/2/10069 MR Name of Applicant LP 30/5/1/2/2/10044 MR Chapudi Coal (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10045 MR Regulus Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10047 MR Coal of Africa Limited LP 30/5/1/2/2/10050 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10053 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10054 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10058 MR Kwezi Mining Exploration (Pty) Ltd LP 30/5/1/2/2/10069 MR Limpopo Coal Company (Pty) Ltd Responsible person Baldwin Khosa Designation Regulatory Affairs Manager Physical address The Campus Gabba Building (2nd floor) 57 Sloane Street Bryanston Postal Address PO Box 69517 Bryanston 2021 Telephone 011 575 4363 Facsimile 086 562 1335 E-mail [email protected] i | P a g e Environmental Consultant Jacana Environmentals cc Responsible person Marietjie Eksteen Physical address 7 Landdros Mare Street, Polokwane Postal Address PO Box 31675, Superbia, 0759 Telephone (015) 291 4015 Facsimile (015) 291 5035 E-mail [email protected] Public Participation Consultant Naledi Development Restructured (Pty) Ltd Responsible person Lizinda Dickson Physical address 143 Zambezi Avenue, Sinoville Postal Address PO Box 13509, Sinoville, 0129 Telephone (012) 543 9093 Facsimile (012) 543 9619 E-mail [email protected] Impact specialist consultants Soil and land use capacity Gudani Consulting - EcoSoil Consortium Surface and Groundwater WSM Leshika Consulting (Pty) Ltd Biodiversity Phaki Phakanani Environmental Consultants Aquatic systems Scientific Aquatic Services Noise Gudani Consulting Air Quality Royal Haskoning DHV Heritage Resources Mbofho Consulting and Projects Socio-Economic Naledi Development Restructured (Pty) Ltd Macro-Economic Mosaka Economic Consultants cc ii | P a g e TABLE OF CONTENT 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE BASELINE ENVIRONMENT ................................................ 1 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND AND LOCATION ......................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Surface Ownership ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.1.2 Community Description ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.3 Land Claimants / Traditional Authority ................................................................................................. 7 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................... 13 1.2.1 Climatic Data ........................................................................................................................................ 13 1.2.1.1 Regional Climate .................................................................................................................................. 13 1.2.1.2 Temperature ........................................................................................................................................ 14 1.2.1.3 Winds ................................................................................................................................................... 16 1.2.1.4 Mean Annual Precipitation and Mean Monthly Rainfall ..................................................................... 18 1.2.1.5 Run-off and Evaporation ...................................................................................................................... 21 1.2.2 Soils ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 1.2.2.1 Parent Material .................................................................................................................................... 23 1.2.2.2 Land Types ........................................................................................................................................... 24 1.2.2.3 Soil Forms ............................................................................................................................................ 28 1.2.2.3.1 Red apedal soils .......................................................................................................................... 28 1.2.2.3.2 Yellow-brown apedal soils .......................................................................................................... 28 1.2.2.3.3 Neocutanic soils .......................................................................................................................... 28 1.2.2.3.4 Carbonate soils ........................................................................................................................... 29 1.2.2.3.5 Neocarbonate soils ..................................................................................................................... 29 1.2.2.3.6 Structured soils ........................................................................................................................... 29 1.2.2.3.7 Shallow rocky soils ...................................................................................................................... 29 1.2.3 Pre-Mining Land Capability .................................................................................................................. 32 1.2.3.1 Agricultural Potential Assessment ....................................................................................................... 34 1.2.4 Present Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 35 1.2.5 Biodiversity (Flora and Fauna) ............................................................................................................. 37 1.2.5.1 Flora ..................................................................................................................................................... 37 1.2.5.1.1 Biome ......................................................................................................................................... 37 1.2.5.1.2 Veld types ................................................................................................................................... 37 1.2.5.1.3 Vegetation communities and sensitivity mapping ..................................................................... 39 1.2.5.1.4 Protected and endemic flora ...................................................................................................... 44 1.2.5.1.5 Introduced or exotic/alien plants ............................................................................................... 46 1.2.5.2 Fauna ................................................................................................................................................... 47 1.2.5.2.1 Mammals .................................................................................................................................... 47 1.2.5.2.2 Avifauna ...................................................................................................................................... 48 1.2.5.2.3 Reptiles ....................................................................................................................................... 50 1.2.5.2.4 Amphibians ................................................................................................................................. 51 1.2.5.2.5 Invertebrates .............................................................................................................................. 51 1.2.5.2.6 Faunal sensitive areas ................................................................................................................ 57 1.2.5.3 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes ................................................................................................ 57 1.2.5.3.1 National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA, 2011) .......................................................................... 57 1.2.5.3.2 Biodiversity Proxy ....................................................................................................................... 57 1.2.5.3.3 Ecosystem Services ..................................................................................................................... 58 iii | P a g e 1.2.6 Aquatic Environment ........................................................................................................................... 61 1.2.6.1 Ecoregions ........................................................................................................................................... 61 1.2.6.2 Ecostatus .............................................................................................................................................. 62 1.2.6.3 Ecological