Heritage Cases

Project title: Proposed expansion of a feedlot for cattle on Portion 4 of the farm Vlaknek 472JP, Ditsobotla Local Municipality, North West Province. Feedlot: A feedlot is a type of animal feeding operation, which is used in intensive animal farming for finishing livestock such as cattle, prior to slaughter. Refer to photographs. A small feedlot (300 - 500 cattle) currently exists on the property and the owner wants to expand the existing feedlot and operate it to accommodate 5 000 cattle (Government Notice Regulation (GNR) 983 of 4 December 2014 as amended in 2017 in GNR 327, Activity 39). In order to expand the feedlot, an area of more than 300m2 of indigenous vegetation will be cleared in an area classified as a Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA) 1 and Ecological Support Area (ESA) 1 in certain sections (GNR 985 of 4 December 2014 as amended in 2017 in GNR 324, Activity 12). Each head of cattle requires 10m2, therefore the expansion will be ±45 000m2 with 200 head of cattle / kraal. The R53 cuts through the property and the portion of the property to the west of the R53 is used for maize farming. The borehole (250 56’ 07.1” South; 260 35” 37.3” East), which supplies water to the farm and operations, is also located west of the R53. Cattle require 7 litres of water / head of cattle / day (12 775m3/annum requirement). All other structures and operations, including the existing feedlot, are located east of the R53. There are no wastewater dams and dry manure is used for fertilizing agricultural fields and donated for garden fertilizing (high demand). There are therefore limited quantities of manure on site at any point in time (refer to photographs). Except for the feedlot no further structures will be built and existing farm structures (house, workers accommodation, stores, workshop etc.) will remain. Construction phase activities that may occur on-site include: • Clearance of natural vegetation (loss of biodiversity); • Minimal levelling; • Delivery of construction equipment and material to the site; • Movement of construction workers and equipment on site; and • Expansion of feedlot. Operational phase activities that may occur on-site include: • Concentration of cattle in the area and movement of cattle; • Feeding of cattle; • Livestock watering (groundwater abstraction); • Maintaining cattle’s health (dipping, vaccinations, veterinary visits etc.); • Birthing of calves as part of the breeding programme (outside feedlot); • Accumulation of manure from cattle (soil, water and air pollution by nitrogen and phosphorus); and • Loading and removal of cattle to abattoir (located in Koster) to be slaughtered. Specialist studies: The following specialist studies were undertaken as part of the project: • Exemption from the Provincial Heritage Resources Agency (PHRA) in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA), 1999 (Act 25 of 1999) since the character of the site will not be changed. • Ecology study by Iggdrasil Scientific Services, 2018 due to location in CBA1. • Geohydrology study by HK Geohydrological Services (Pty) Ltd due to groundwater contamination risk as well as use of groundwater as water supply source.