Heritage Cases

The landowner (farmer who leases the property to Lafarge) has requested that a portion of land within the north eastern corner of the existing MRA, approximately 14,500m2 or 1.45 hectares in extent, be excluded from the current MRA in order to allow for the expansion of the surrounding agricultural activities (Area 1). This area being proposed is currently undisturbed by mining activities and has no real value for Lafarge in terms of future mineral reserve. Within this area of proposed exclusion there are also marked historic graves which pose an ongoing management matter for Lafarge in terms of allowing community members continued access whilst also taking into account on going mining operations within the MRA. The exclusion of the demarcated graves area from the MRA would additionally make it easier for the community to access the site in order to pay their respects. In agreement for this area to be excluded the landowner has proposed to exchange a portion of land currently outside of the existing MRA to Lafarge, approximately 10,200m2 or 1.02 hectares in extent, for future mine planning. This area is located on the north western corner of the existing MRA (Area 2) immediately adjacent to the security guard house, entrance road and bench 6 of the quarry pit. Based on the small extent of land being proposed for as part of the landowner exchange proposal, Lafarge, Pear Environmental (Pty) Ltd and the DMR agreed, during a meeting at the DMR offices in Emalahleni in August 2018, that a Basic Assessment (BA) Process be followed instead of a full Scoping & Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) Process as outlined by the Section 102 Regulation of the MPRDA. The proposed project triggers certain listed activities which fall within the scheduled activities under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations 2014; promulgated under the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998). In light of the activity identified, the application procedure to be followed is a BA process.