Permits

This permit is issued to Ms Lindsay Marshall (Maropeng a’Afrika Leisure (Pty) Ltd) and Ms Lindsey Smith (Management Authority of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site) for maintenance activities regarding landscape and rangeland management, signage management and tourism route management at the Sterkfontein Caves, Sterkfontein National Heritage, Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

Conditions:

1. Ms Lindsey Smith or Ms Lindsay Marshall or an authorised representative must be on site during maintenance activities.

2. The activities will consist of:

• brushcutting, removal of dangerous overhanging branches and dead trees near the entrance to the cave, and removal of fuel load across the property as a fire preventative means;
• invasive alien plant (IAP) management;
• burning tracer lines, firebreaks and potential block burns;
• moving of the existing “Isaac Stegman Nature Reserve” sign to a location closer to the entrance to the cave;
• installation of additional safety and indemnity signs near the cave entrance. SAHRA will be engaged on this work before installation;
• Replacing of faded interpretative signs;
• Replacing of broken pieces of rubber matting to stabilise the tourism walkways inside the cave;
• Re-aligned of all rubber matting and re-affixing with stainless steel nails

3. Ms Lindsey Smith and/or Ms Lindsay Marshall may appoint a suitable service provider to undertake maintenance activities.

4. All waste material and left over equipment must be removed from the site once the activity has been completed, and the site will be left in the manner it was found (save for the permitted change).

5. The landowner must be consulted and informed before and after a maintenance activity.

6. It is understood that a COH WHS MA or Maropeng a’Afrika Leisure (Pty) Ltd representative will photograph the affected area prior to and again after the activities have been completed.

7. Interim report on the results of the maintenance activities should be submitted to SAHRA by the end of October 2018 and 2019, and a final report by the end of October 2020.

8. It is the responsibility of the permit holders to obtain permission from the landowner for each visit, and to ensure that they have an understanding with the landowner concerning: the number of workers; speed limits on access roads; possible prohibitions on off-road driving; size, type and number of vehicles permitted; possible prohibitions on trespassing beyond the site; disturbing fauna, flora or substrate; appropriate hours of working on the site; use of firewood, electricity and water; lighting fires and the prevention of uncontrolled fires and any fencing necessary to protect livestock. Conditions of access imposed by the landowner must be observed.

9. The amount of traffic, i.e. numbers of people on site, should be minimised as much as possible to avoid excessive disturbance of the site.

10. SAHRA shall not be liable for any losses, damages or injuries to persons or properties as a result of any activities in connection with this permit.

11. SAHRA reserves the right to cancel this permit by notice to the permit holder.