Case Decision - 191383

Final Comment
The SAHRA Archaeology, Palaeontology and Meteorites (APM) Unit has no objection to the proposed development. The recommendations provided in the AIA and the Palaeontological Study (commented on previously), and the following conditions must be included in the Environmental Management Programme (EMPr) for the project:

A 30 m buffer must be established around the identified burial grounds. A Conservation Management Plan (CMP) inclusive of access protocols and monitoring procedures must be developed as part of the EMPr;
If it is not possible to retain the burial grounds in-situ, a consultation process in terms of Section 36 of the National Heritage Resources Act, No 25 of 1999 (NHRA) and NHRA Regulations Chapter IX and X must be followed. Once this has been completed a permit in terms of Section 36 of the NHRA can be applied for by a qualified archaeologist if relocation is found feasible;
The Final EIA, EMPr and all appendices must be submitted to SAHRA upon their submission to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for decision making;
If any evidence of archaeological sites or remains (e.g. remnants of stone-made structures, indigenous ceramics, bones, stone artefacts, ostrich eggshell fragments, charcoal and ash concentrations), fossils or other categories of heritage resources are found during the proposed development, SAHRA APM Unit (Natasha Higgitt/John Gribble 021 462 5402) must be alerted. If unmarked human burials are uncovered, the SAHRA Burial Grounds and Graves (BGG) Unit (Mimi Seetelo 012 320 8490), must be alerted immediately. A professional archaeologist or palaeontologist, depending on the nature of the finds, must be contracted as soon as possible to inspect the findings. If the newly discovered heritage resources prove to be of archaeological or palaeontological significance, a Phase 2 rescue operation may be required;
If the development receives an Environmental Authorisation (EA), SAHRA must be informed and all documents pertaining to the EA must be uploaded to the SAHRIS Case file.