CaseDecisions

KiPower (Pty) Ltd a subsidiary of Kuyasa Mining (Pty) Ltd is proposing to construct two loop-in-loop-out (LILO) 400kV transmission power lines on behalf of Eskom SOC Limited, to transmit electricity produced from the KiPower Independent Power Producer (IPP) Coal-Fired power plant (Approved in 2015) to the Eskom 400kV Matla-Glockner power line 24km away from the plant.  For each proposed power line the servitude will be 55m wide with a total of 110m for both power lines. Four alternative power line corridors were proposed however the Corridor D with D2-D4 routes is the preferred alternatives. This proposed development will cross the following farms for the Corridor D alternative: Brakfontein 310 IR, Goedehoop 308 IR, Haverglen 269 IR, Haverklip 265 IR, Klipfontein 357 IR, Holspruit 303 IR, Rietfontein 313 IR, Steenkoolspruit 302 IR and Watervalshoek 350 IR in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality and Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province. KiPower (Pty) Ltd appointed Jones and Wagner (Pty) Ltd Engineering and Environmental Consultants (J&W) to conduct a Draft Environmental Impact Assessment process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA, 107 of 1998), as amended.  J&W then appointed Dr Julius Pistorius to conduct the Heritage Impact Assessment component.

Pistorius, J.C.C. January 2016. A phase 1 Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) study for the proposed KiPower 400kV Loop-in-Loop-out Transmission Lines to Connect the KiPower Independent Power Station with the National Grid on the Eastern Highveld in the Mpumalanga Province.

The field assessment of the proposed 400kV power lines covered all the alternative routes, and a number of heritage resources were identified with a concentration of the heritage sites within and in close proximity to Corridor D power line servitude. Two of the heritage sites were historic farmsteads FC01 and FC02 and a collapsed stone walled site was identified (SS01) as well as 17 graveyards near all the proposed power line alternatives.

FC01 is a farmstead located within the proposed Corridor D servitude, the site consists of 6 sandstone buildings older than 60 years old and in ruins located on the farm Haverklip 265 IR.

FC02 is a farmstead located just outside the proposed Corridor A servitude, the site consists of 3 brick and sandstone buildings older than 60 years and in a dilapidated state and two graveyards namely GY13 and GY14 with the burials related to the previous occupants of the farmstead.

SS01 is collapsed stone walled site which may be the remains of a small village from the historical period possibly late 19^th Century site located near the tributary of the Steenkoolspruit. The site may consist of livestock enclosures and hut foundations and it is located in close proximity to the Corridor D servitude.

17 graveyards have been identified from the survey of the proposed power line servitude corridors and 9 of the cemetery were located within all the proposed servitude alternatives and the rest are located outside. The 9 cemeteries that may be impacted are:  GY01; GY03; GY04; GY05; GY07; GY11; GY12; GY15; GY16 and the report recommends that they should be conserved in situ and fenced once the corridor is chosen.

All sites above have been rated of medium significance because of its sandstone building materials as well as the rare occurrence of stone walled sites in this part of Mpumalanga province, the author suggests that all the sites should be conserved in situ but if it cannot be conserved then a phase 2 mapping and recording by an architect should be conducted for the buildings.