Chapter 11 - Sedibeng District Municipality

Commercial agriculture takes up the largest area w ithin Lesedi at approximately
95% of the total land surface, and is dominated by large scale crop (maize, grain,
sorghum, w heat soya and dry beans, ground nuts, sunflow er seeds and vegetables)
and animal production (milk, beef, mutton and lamb, port, eggs and poultry). In
respect of agricultural development, the Gauteng Agricultural Plan (2008) identifies
several Important Agricultural Sites (IAS) and an Agricultural Hub w ithin the study
area. According to the Agricultural Plan, the Agricultural Hubs identified should
become the focus areas for the location and development of all activities (primary and
secondary) related to the agricultural industry – e.g. dow nstream agri-processing,
agricultural villages, incubators, etc. Furthermore, in support of the Hubs, the
Important Agricultural Sites (IAS’s) or the areas falling outside of the boundaries of
the Hubs, should be protected from uses other than for agricultural purposes.
Consequently, the SDF identifies a focus area for agriculture stretching from
Vischkuil/Endicott in the north, southw ards tow ards Balfour. More specifically, in
support of agricultural development and the strategies being implemented by the DLA
and the Gauteng Department of agriculture, the SDF proposes the establishment of
six Area Based Planning (ABP) areas. Essentially, these areas (as proposed by the
Agricultural Plan) are being reserved by the SDF solely for agricultural purposes.
Furthermore, the SDF identifies the strip of land located betw een the R29 and N17
roads as a Development Zone for agricultural-based LED initiatives.
Apart from industrial and agricultural uses, a number of old mine shafts are found
east of Heidelberg and south of Nigel. The most important of these are the old
Witw atersrand/Nigel Gold Mine situated ±3 km south of Jameson Park, and the
vertical shaft in the “Heidelberg Zone of Opportunity” betw een Heidelberg and
Heidelberg x9 (Bergsig).
The Blesbok, Boesman and Suikerbosrandspruits, the Suikerbosrand and Alice
Glockner Nature Reserves, and the ridges represent important environmental
features within the study area. In respect of the SDF and the Lesedi Environmental
Management Framew ork (EMF) (2006), the Blesbokspruit w etlands north of Nigel and
west of Vischkuil/Endicott, and the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve w est of Heidelberg
represent ecological focus areas. According to the SDF and EMF, these areas should
be conserved and promoted as major eco-tourism and recreational centres.
Grow th and developmental pressure over the last 7 (seven) years has resulted in a
large number of development applications falling outside of the existing urban edge
being approved. Furthermore, several of the existing rural settlement areas w ere
ignored in the delineation of the previous urban edge. These rural settlements
(Devon/Impumelelo, Vischkuil, JamesonPark and Kaydale) play an important function
in the provision of housing opportunities for the rural dw ellers, social facilities and
economic opportunities. Consequently, the SDF proposes that the existing edge be
amended.
In respect of land ow nership, a total of 20 113 registered farms and erven are found
within the Municipality, of w hich the majority of the land (92%) comprising these farms
and erven are in private ownership. Significantly though, in terms of the existing
spatial structure, Government-ow ned land is strategically w ell-located to facilitate infill
and densification.
SDM DITP, 2008 to 2013 112 31 Aug 2010