Heritage Cases

Environmental Impact Management Services (Pty) Ltd (EIMS) has been appointed by Tau Lekoa Gold Mining Company (Pty) Ltd. (the applicant) to apply for a Water Use Licence (WUL) for the existing Tau Lekoa mine. The mine consists of the Tau Lekoa Section (located on portions 27 and 31 of the farm Goedgenoeg 433 IP and farm Boshoek 466), which is located ~6km SW of Orkney in the North-West Province, and the adjacent Weltevreden Section (located on Farm Weltevreden 130 and farm Jonkerskraal 475), which lies in the Free State Province. Through the acquisition of the mine by Tau Lekoa Gold Mining Company (Pty) Ltd. from the previous owner, Buffelsfontein Gold Mines Limited, the WUL relating to the affected properties was relinquished and as such, a new WUL is required. The Tau Lekoa mine is an active mine, while the existing Weltevreden Section is currently flooded and needs to be dewatered in order for future planned operations to occur. The Applicant intends to apply for an WUL in terms of Section 40 of the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998 - NWA) for the following Section 21 water uses: o 21(a) - taking water from a water resource (applicable to the Weltevreden shaft water); o 21(c) - impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse (applicable to the powerline); o 21(e) - engaging in a controlled activity identified as such in section 37(1) or declared under section 38(1) (applicable to the sewage treatment works); o 21(g) - disposing of waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact on water resources (applicable to both the Tau Lekoa and Weltevreden Sections for various dirty water systems); o 21 (i) - altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse (applicable to the powerline); and o 21 (j) - removing, discharging or disposing of water found underground if it is necessary for the efficient continuation of an activity or for the safety of people (applicable to the Weltevreden shaft).