Heritage Cases

The project is located near eMakhazeni in the Mpumalanga Province. The D 2809 Provincial Gravel Road (“the road”) runs from the Siyathuthuka Road in a southerly direction until it reaches the N 4 toll road. The road is used by the general public, landowners, and workers accessing land along the road. The road falls within an approved Mining Right Area (MRA), owned and operated by North Block Complex Pty Ltd (NBC) (MP 30/5/1/2/2/10090 MR). In order for NBC to undertake opencast coal mining as approved in the Mining Right (MR), the road needs to be permanently realigned. The responsibility for the road is currently vested with the provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT). NBC has approached the DPWRT to undertake the realignment of the road, at their (NBCs) own cost and as approved by the DPWRT, with responsibility of the road after realignment remaining vested with the provincial DPWRT. The road is not a haul road and will not be used as a haul road. The road will remain a provincial road after realignment used the general public, landowners, and workers to access land along the road, including businesses, homesteads, and schools. In order to undertake the realignment an Environmental Authorisation (EA) is required. The responsibility for the maintenance and management of the road lies with and will remain with the provincial DPWRT and not the mine. For this reason, as confirmed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental (DFFE) (Appendix 5), the competent authority for the application is the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (MDARDLEA).