Heritage Cases

The proposed Nokeng Fluorspar Mine and Associated Infrastructure Project entails the proposed establishment of a fluorspar mine and associated infrastructure (two opencast mining pits, a minerals processing plant and a tailings storage facility (TSF)) over a total surface area of approximately 1400ha. The fluorspar content decreases with depth and the economic fluorspar ore body occurs essentially above the 360m level, with an average of 20% to 40% CaF2 and localised enriched zones with up to 65% CaF2 with two geographically separated fluorspar deposits: • A haematite-fluorspar deposit in the northern region of Kromdraai 209JR, immediately south of the Vergenoeg Mine, which has been named the Plattekop deposit ; • A placer outwash fan further south, which straddles the Kromdraai 209JR and Naauwpoort 208JR farm boundary. This deposit has been termed the Outwash Fan Deposit. African Heritage Consultants completed a Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) for the project EIA in 2009. During that archaeological investigation, some stone walling was found on a small hill known as Plattekop where mining is planned. At the site, the study documented a long stonewall with a number of openings along the southern side of the Plattekop with no walls along the western and northern sides where natural rocks form a barrier (S25.26476° E28.58060°). In addition, on the eastern side of the koppie three small semi circles with a diameter of ±8–10m were noted. The AIA indicated that stonewalls are old as they are overgrown with lichens and no visible deposit and or potential of ash deposit were found. According to the AIA, stonewalls on Plattekop were used for a very short time, either as part of a temporary cattle or animal enclosure or it could have been an initiation site though no initiation stone cairns (or phiri’s) are present. It was noted that these stonewalls look similar to Later Iron Age stonewalls recorded elsewhere in the Dinokeng area by Küsel. The AIA concluded that the site is of little archaeological or heritage value and thus is only of local interest. However it was recommended that a Phase II Cultural Heritage Resources impact assessment be done on the site to record all archaeological features. The Heritage Unit of Exigo Sustainability was appointed to update the initial Phase 1 AIA Study , and undertake work for the Phase 2 assessment. The objective of the Plattekop Phase 2 Assessment was to adequately capture LIA archaeological features in place and time; in other words to document all archaeological surface features and subsurface occurrences (if present) and provide a cultural interpretation of these features. Ultimately, the study envisaged the preservation of the cultural fabric of the site, prior to the physical destruction of these heritage resources during mining of Plattekop. The author of the Phase 2 Assessment is confident that, in the absence of material culture evidence, the spatial extent and spatial definitions of the Plattekop LIA horizon has been adequately captured and documented. An occupation sequence, cultural context, temporality and probably site function for the Plattekop LIA stone walls have also been established and available on-site and off-site data have been adequately collated and captured for archiving proposes for future reference, in order to permanently conserve the historical fabric of the site. Thus, based on the directives of The National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA) (Act No. 25 of 1999), SAHRA document (2007:4) APM Guidelines: Minimum Standards for the Archaeological and Palaeontological Components of Impact Assessment Reports and SAHRA General Guidelines to Archaeological Permitting Policy (2.2 Permits for Mitigation) this application is made for a destruction permit for Site EXIGO-NFM-IA01 on the farm Kromdraai 209JR.