AE01236V

A report on a cultural heritage impact assessment for the Rockblend coal mining environmental management plans, close to Witbank, Mpumalanga Province

Summary

Archaetnos cc was requested by GCS to conduct a baseline cultural heritage impact assessment (HIA) for coal mining permit environmental management plans for three adjacent mining areas. These are situated in the vicinity of Witbank in the Mpumalanga Province.
The client indicated the areas where the proposed development is to take place and the survey was confined to this area. A survey of the available literature was also undertaken in order to obtain background information regarding the area.
During the survey no sites of cultural heritage significance were located. The area has been disturbed in the recent past and therefore it comes as no surprise. Therefore no mitigation is required.
The proposed development may therefore continue. It should also be noted that the subterranean presence of archaeological and/or historical sites, features or artifacts is always a distinct possibility. Care should therefore be taken when work on site commences that if any of these are discovered, a qualified archaeologist be called in to investigate.

Report by

Dr. A.C. van Vollenhoven (L.AKAD.SA.)