Heritage Cases

Two graves have been identified by the HIA on the site of the development. Only one of these two graves fall within the project area, however, one of the recommendations in the HIA was that the graves to be mitigated. Another identified grave is located to the south of Location Road on the perimeter of the Brakpan Old Location site. The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is the current custodian of these identified graves. It is the intention for the identified grave to be excavated and relocated to a formal cemetery. In order to address the comments from SAHRA, the public participation programme (PPP) was reinitiated in order to more accurately comply with the 60 day notification period. For the second PPP, G&A Heritage ensured that all notification letters, advertisements, and posters were submitted, placed and distributed to the public in and around Brakpan precisely for a 60 day period, and 60 days in advance of the final PPP meetings which were held. In addition to this, the newspaper advertisement was published in two newspapers in two languages, namely English and IsiZulu. Pamphlets were also distributed in Brakpan and its surrounding areas in English and IsiZulu. In addition, a Covid Migitation Plan was amended and resubmitted to SAHRA for a 60 day period. Lastly, in order to allow for people’s working schedules and agendas, public meetings were organised in two of the affected informal settlement areas in Brakpan on a Friday and a Saturday in order to accommodate people who might be working during the week. (Full details, minutes and attendance registers can be found in the attached PPP Report). After an extensive PPP, no NoK could be found, nor any further information about the identified grave to be removed. Several attempts have been made by the consultants during this public participation process to satisfy the requirements of the NHRA of 1999, together with the NHRA Act Regulations of 2000.