Heritage Cases

The purpose of this document is to provide supporting environmental insights to an application for a Prospecting Right on Portion 5 of the Farm Gunsfontein No. 29 Situated within the Magisterial District of Sutherland, Northern Cape Province. The site covers a total area extent of approximately 443.221 hectares and is located about 34 km northwest of Sutherland Town and 35 km south west of Middelpols. The proposed prospecting activity will include the following non-invasive activities; Review of Historical and newly acquired data, Geochemical Survey, Geochemical Survey, Geophysical Survey. Drilling will be the only invasive activity employed. It is worth noting that the proposed activity will comply with the undertaking of activities that are considered as listed activities in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998) as amended. An application for a Prospecting Right was submitted to the Department and this basic environmental assessment is undertaken in support of the environmental authorisation application for the proposed project. In view of the above, African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation Soc Ltd has appointed Matavha Environmental (Pty) Ltd as an independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner to undertake and manage the environmental authorisation application. The public participation process (PPP) and stakeholder engagement process, as part of the Environmental Authorisation process was conducted in terms of Section 41 of NEMA: 5 EIA regulation 326 of 2017 which provides clear guidelines for PPP and stakeholder engagement during the Basic Assessment process. One of the general objectives of environmental management is to ensure an “adequate and appropriate opportunity for public participation in decisions that may affect the environment”. The PPP is primarily aimed at affording Stakeholders and Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) an opportunity to gain an understanding of the project. In addition, to afford an opportunity to inform and consult with the landowners, I&APs and to provide them with the necessary information about the proposed project. Thus, they can make informed decisions as to whether to proceed or decline and to weigh the consequences of the project. Before an EAP submits a final report, an opportunity must be provided to registered I&AP’s to comment on the report prior to the submission of the final report to the competent authority for approval. Stakeholders and I&AP’s are therefore invited to participate in the public review of the Draft BAR from 06 June to 07 July (period of 30 days). Copies were delivered to the identified stakeholders. After the public review period, the report will be updated with all the comments received during public consultation . This document provides a basic assessment study with identified environmental impacts, mitigation measures and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the proposed Prospecting Right application. This document focuses on providing an insight of the proposed activities and their potential impact on the receiving environment, and how the identified potential impacts will be managed. This document is compiled in line with the NEMA:EIA Regulation 326 of 2017.