Rietfontein residents could soon
be living next to 24 000 graves
upstream from one of Pretoria’s
major water sources. A mausoleum
project that makes provision
for more than half of a Loftus Versveld
audience seems to be steaming
ahead in spite of urgent appeals
from residents and environmental
consultants.
Bokamoso Environmental Consultants
is busy with a High Court
application against the mausoleum
on behalf of affected property owners.
The consultants’ initial appeal,
just after the approval of the mausoleum
project last year, was
rejected.
In The Bronberger’s June 2010 edition
we reported that permission
has been granted to build an 8 ha
mausoleum on portion 39 of the
farm Rietfontein 375 JR.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development (GDARD)
gave environmental authorisation
for the mausoleum project on
12 April last year. Permission has
been granted for the following: a
chapel, large mausoleums of more
than 12 m², small to medium mausoleums
of 6-12 m², crypts, remembrance
parks, an administration
building, toilet facilities, small access
roads and a maintenance shed.
The company that applied for
authorisation to establish a mausoleum
(cemetery) is Basfour 3512
(Pty) Ltd. Golder Associates was
appointed to undertake the basic
environmental assessment process
and Zitholele Consulting conducted
the public participation process.

Aerial view of the Rietvlei dam
Comments
According to residents the public
participation process was insufficient
because the comments received
on the project were omitted
from the final report and no feedback
was provided on the comments.
They said that certain specialist
studies were absent, that
issues of concern were not sufficiently
addressed and that the mausoleum
will cause irreversible harm
to the public and the environment.
The GDARD letter of authorisation
states that the department is satisfied
that “no sensitive environmental
features such as rivers, wetlands
and drainage lines were noted or
identified during the site inspection”.
However, the Rietvlei dam is situated
to the west of the mausoleum
site and consultants found that
groundwater flows in a westerly
direction directly to the dam. The
site falls within the secondary catchments
of the Rietvlei dam.
Water
In this area groundwater accumulates
in large subterranean dolomite
chambers and is annually supplemented
by rainwater, resulting in
dolomite springs which feed the
dam.
The Rietvlei Dam is surrounded by
the Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
Residents are concerned that
decomposing fluids and gases will
lead to pollution of the soil and
groundwater that feeds the Rietvlei
dam, which daily supplies approximately
10 million liters of Pretoria’s
drinking water.
Most of the residents in the area
reside on farm portions and agricultural
holdings, which are solely
dependent on groundwater sources
for drinking water. They fear that
the correct foundations, sealing and
lining of coffins and absorbent
material might not be used which
will result in the pollution of
groundwater.
Decompose
Bokamoso’s appeal included references
to a variety of studies done
on decomposing bodies in below or
above-ground cemeteries. One of
the reports states that cemeteries
pose a pollution threat far exceeding
original perceptions. Micro biological
pollutants, including bacteria,
viruses and parasites, remain active
within the water table at much
greater distances from their source
than previously speculated.
According to Lizelle Gregory from
Bokamoso the Mausoleum project’s
change in land use is not in place
yet and there will soon be a hearing
for the rezoning application. The
first hearing was postponed due to a
lack of quorum.
Lizelle said that she will keep residents
up to date with the hearing
date and the address where it will
be held. For more information,
contact Bokamoso at
012-346-3810. |