Heritage Cases

The development of a rapid transit bus system in Pretoria is underway. The line along Paul Kruger Street, linking Boom and Scheiding Streets, will significantly alter the urban landscape of downtown Pretoria. Along the northern section (stretching from Boom Street to Church Square) vehicular traffic will be prohibited and the pavements will be upgraded. Along the southern section (stretching from Church Square to the Pretoria Station in Scheiding Street) normal traffic will be diverted, the width of the roadway will be reduced and the pavement areas will be extended. The proposed changes will not directly impact buildings along Paul Kruger Street but alterations to the roadway and pavement surfaces will affect the urban fabric, both above and below the existing ground level. Extant historical verandahs, granite curbing and slate paving require strict monitoring and management while sub-surface investigations and developments may uncover historical water furrows and tramlines, infrastructure associated with earlier periods of Pretoria. The water furrows in particular are likely to yield quantities of historical artefacts, although a general broadcast scatter of material is deemed likely. Preliminary exploratory testing by the appointed engineers (A-M Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd) in the Block between Boom Street and Bloed Street (designated Block 1 in the Phase I report) has already uncovered a small number of historical artefacts. Given the scope of the project and the designated timelines an urgent application is hereby made for an archaeological permit that covers the length of Paul Kruger Street from Boom Street to Scheiding Street. Work along the street is being monitored by archaeologists and the permit will ensure that all necessary archaeological interventions and mitigations can be effected quickly and efficiently.