Heritage Cases

Kolomela Mine is an open cast iron ore mine, located approximately 12 km southwest of Postmasburg within the Tsantsabane Local Municipality, Northern Cape Province . The mine is owned by Sishen Iron Ore Company (Pty) Ltd (SIOC), the current mining right holder. Anglo American plc currently owns 63% of Kumba Iron Ore, and Kumba, in turn owns 74% of SIOC. Background Various studies (Kusel, US & SU Kusel. 2011; Birkholtz/vd Ryst, 2015; Birkholtz, 2019; Mann and Fourie, 2021) conducted for the development and subsequent expansion of the Kolomela mine identified the presence of the archaeological mining site of KOL3. KOL 3 is situated within an area in which previous prospecting activities were conducted, and the area surrounding the site was heavily prospected. The open‐mine workings of haematite consist of a narrow trench with two stopes on the highest section. It is similar to ancient open mining technologies that resulted in a narrow deep trench (Küsel, 1979) and was suited to rocks that dip steeply or are vertical (Hammer et al, 2000:51). It has been estimated that 3 000 to 4 000 tons of haematite ore could have been removed. The backfilling of the excavation obscures details such as possible tunnels (van der Ryst, 2011). Birkholtz (2015) recommended further studies, and a Field assessment and recording was completed by PGS in 2019. The recommendations of this study were: 1. The intensive walkthroughs undertaken across the surface of the site and its wider surroundings, confirmed that on the surface the site does not extend further than the immediate surroundings of the site stopes. As such, the site layout as depicted on the archaeological site plan in Figure 20, represents the entire extent of the site on the surface. 2. The buffer area that was recommended for the site over the course of a number of reports since 2011, namely that a buffer area of 400m must be maintained around the site, still remains. This buffer area must be kept clear of development. 3. Should the need arise for the above-mentioned buffer area of 400m to be reduced, Phase 2 excavations would be required. Areas from within the site such as the cluster of collapsed stones, as well as the section of back-filled stones observed in Stope 1, may provide productive areas to focus on in such excavation work. These recommendations are further contained in the Heritage Management Plan (HMP) developed for the Klomea Mine: • A buffer area of 400m must be maintained around the site and be kept clear of development. • The buffer zone must be demarcated. • Should the need arise for the above-mentioned buffer area of 400m to be reduced, Phase 2 excavations would be required under a permit issued by the SAHRA. • Conduct adequate consultation with SAHRA proactively should future activities encroach on the buffer area. • Permit required in terms of Section 35 of NHRA before disturbance. Future mining and works The Kolomela Mine has identified the need to expand the mining activities on the farm Kapstevel northwards towards KOL3. This will include open cast ming and overburden storage. This expansion will encroach on the 400 meter buffer, and the current planning is to have mining activities with 50 meters of KOL3. Consultation and interaction with SAHRA The aim of this case is to initiate interaction with SAHRA on the mitigation aspects and process to follow to address the possible impact of mining on the archaeological site KOL3. Thus determining if mitigation works and the submission of such a final application will be successful fro eth relaxation of the current buffer zon. References Birkholtz, P & MM van der Ryst. 2015. PGS Heritage. Kolomela Amendment Project. Amendment of Existing Mining Activities. Birkholtz, P. 2019. PGS Heritage Field Assessment and Recording of Site KOL 3, an Archaeological Mining Site, Near Postmasburg, Northern Cape Province. Phase 2 Archaeological Assessment Kusel, US & SU Kusel. 2011. African Heritage Consultants Heritage Management Plan for Kolomela Mine in the Postmasburg District Municipality. Mann, N. & Fourie, W. 2021. PGS Heritage. Heritage Impact Assessment for the Kolomela Extension Project. Amendment of Existing Mining Activities.