HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF - SAHRA

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HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF N2 – MVEZO VILLAGE LINK ROAD AND BRIDGE, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE Management summary eThembeni Cultural Heritage was appointed by SSI to undertake a heritage impact assessment of the construction and upgrade of an access road and bridge in the Eastern Cape Province, in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act No 25 of 1999. eThembeni staff members inspected the area on 1, 2 and 3 December 2010, and completed a controlled-exclusive surface survey and a database and literature search. Observations − Places, buildings, structures and equipment Ex-President Nelson Mandela was born in Mvezo in 1918. As a toddler, he moved with his parents to Qunu to join other relatives. The Nelson Mandela Museum consequently has three precincts, located in Mthatha, Qunu and Mvezo. These places have high heritage significance at all levels for their social, cultural and spiritual values. The proposed N2 – Mvezo link road and bridge will not affect the Eastern Cape-Mbashe, Coffee Bay, Mvezo-Nelson Mandela Museum at Mvezo directly, but will have indirect positive impacts on the place by facilitating visitor access and local economic empowerment. − Archaeological sites The proposed bridge across the Mbashe River on route Alternative 1 is located within and adjacent to the river floodplain, which has been ploughed extensively for agricultural crop production. These fields are currently fallow and we observed stone manuports and ceramic sherds in the vicinity of the proposed bridge abutments that suggest the presence of a largely subsurface Early Iron Age site(s). The extent and significance of this archaeological site is unknown at present. − Graves and burial grounds We observed one community burial ground and one isolated ancestral grave outside of a homestead precinct within the proposed development area, located at S31 56 19.0; E28 27 38.5 (and surrounds) and S31 56 22.6; E28 27 45.5, respectively. The burial ground includes more than 100 graves, both older and younger than 60 years, with the most recent headstone inscription dating to 1999. All human remains have high heritage significance at all levels for their social and spiritual values. eThembeni Cultural Heritage for SSI Page 2
HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF N2 – MVEZO VILLAGE LINK ROAD AND BRIDGE, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE Recommended mitigation measures − Places, buildings, structures and equipment No further mitigation is required. − Archaeological sites A suitably qualified and experienced Iron Age archaeologist should be appointed to undertake limited subsurface sampling (mainly auguring) of the area around the proposed bridge location on route Alternative 1 on both banks of the Mbashe River, having obtained the necessary permit from SAHRA. The purpose of such sampling should be to determine the extent, nature and significance of the archaeological site, and make recommendations for further, more comprehensive excavations or recording, if required. − Graves and burial grounds Human remains may not be altered in any way without the permission of the next-of-kin and a permit from the relevant heritage authority. No development may occur within a minimum of 20 metres of the grave and / or burial ground. − General If route Alternative 1 is not selected for this project, or if its alignment is altered significantly, a heritage practitioner should be appointed to undertake an assessment of the chosen route / realignment. Recommended monitoring None at present, but monitoring of the archaeological site during construction may be deemed necessary following further investigation of its extent and significance. Conclusion We recommend that the development proceed with the proposed heritage mitigation and have submitted this report to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) in fulfilment of the requirements of the National Heritage Resources Act. If permission is granted for the development to proceed, the client is reminded that the Act requires that a developer cease all work immediately and notify SAHRA should any heritage resources, as defined in the Act, be discovered during the course of development activities. eThembeni Cultural Heritage for SSI Page 3
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HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF - SAHRA

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