Pretoria - Eskom has welcomed the recommendations by the CRL Rights Commission and the heritage specialists regarding the disturbed graves at the Medupi power station in Limpopo.
The Medupi power station graves task team commissioned a heritage assessment of the Medupi power station development following reports of disturbance and desecration of graves located in the construction zone of the project near Lephalale.
The investigation identified seven burial sites which have been disturbed or are the subject of a grievance lodged by relatives that need to be resolved, as well as seven graves and burial sites listed in terms of the National Heritage Act which are not subject to a grievance, but that require management in consultation with stakeholders.
Five existing sites, including sacred pools and old settlements worth preserving, were also identified during the process.
The report has put forward recommendations, including the protection and maintenance of graves and sacred pools, as well as the establishment, by Eskom, of a memorial plague in memory of those buried inside the construction area.
It was recommended a cleansing ceremony be held at Medupi in respect of the graves that were disturbed or destroyed and that local communities be permitted to organise rituals and proposed shrine.
The heritage impact assessment was undertaken by independent heritage specialists, Mbofho Consulting and Project Managers, and the recommendations made by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).
The proposed remedial actions from both the CRL Rights Commission’s recommendations and that of the heritage impact assessment will be made part of Heritage Management Plan that will be put together through a representative task team.
It will be tracked through an independent Medupi Environmental Monitoring Committee as a long-term strategy for sustainable management of the heritage on this site.
“The CRL Rights Commission’s recommendations, together with the outcome of the heritage impact assessment undertaken through a task team, have increased our understanding of the heritage-related aspects in the Medupi area,” said Eskom in a statement on Wednesday.
On 6 October the Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises Bulelani Magwanishe and Eskom’s Acting Group Executive for Group Capital, Abram Masango, met with the affected community members at the construction site of the Medupi power station.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss the implementation of the Heritage Management Plan as recommended in the heritage study.
In addition, it was agreed that Eskom and the affected families and community will hold a cleansing ceremony and build an arena with a commemorative plaque in memory of those affected.
They will also ensure that the graves are protected and to grant families access to the graves.
Eskom also apologised to the affected families.
Eskom Chief Executive Officer Brian Molefe said: “Eskom would firstly like to apologise to the affected families and the community at large. We remain committed to ensuring continued compliance with the South African legislation and addressing the issues raised by the community in an appropriate manner.
“Going forward, we will take due care and put appropriate measures in preserving the heritage of the site for the life of the Medupi power station and beyond.” – SAnews.gov.za
