Heritage Cases

Bismarck Irrigation and Development (Pty Ltd.) has requested the Heritage Unit of Exigo Sustainability to conduct an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) for a proposed upgrade and development of a fence line on the farms Bismarck 116MS, Skutwater 115MS, Riedel 48MS and Weipe 47MS in the Limpopo Province. The project entails the upgrade of a fence line across a linear surface are of approximately 6km. In addition, the project includes the construction of a service road within a corridor of approximately 15m as well as other access road. Project development activities commenced in 2020 and heritage sites were impacted whereafter the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) issued a Cease Works Order in terms of section 50(10) and section 35(5) of the NHRA. SAHRA stipulated that a full Phase 1 HIA must be conducted and submitted to the authority and compliance with relevant provisions of the NHRA be met before development may proceed1. It should be noted that one of the sites impacted on during this development was documented in another HIA process2 for the Bismarck Dam & Pipelines EIA Project. Subject to requirement stipulated in the Cease Works Order, application is made for a permit for the controlled surface collection, archaeological excavation and rehabilitation of Site Exigo-BFD-S1, Site Exigo-BFD-S2, Site Exigo-BFD-S3 as recommended in the AIA Report, the Cease Works Order and comment issued on the AIA Report