Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (South Africa) (C 1099bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 36 COM 7B.48, 37 COM 7B.43 and 38 COM 8B.48, adopted at its 36th (Saint-Petersburg, 2012), 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) and 38th (Doha, 2014) sessions respectively;
3. Commends the State Party for the development of the Environmental Management Framework and measures adopted to control the processing of existing mining rights and to prohibit further prospecting licenses in the new buffer zone;
4. Notes that the proposed extension of the Venetia Diamond mine from open pit to underground operation will require additional infrastructure within the footprint of the existing mine, that impact assessments have indicated that the change of process should reduce the environmental impacts of the mine, and that the water infrastructure arrangements within the property will be mitigated, and requests the State Party to continue regular monitoring of the mine activities;
5. Acknowledges that key parts of the Integrated Management Plan (IMP) are being implemented, and also acknowledges that the State Party has clarified that there are no proposals for a projected power station and a coal/gas field north of the Soutpansberg as mentioned in the IMP;
6. Also notes that some work has been undertaken on stabilizing the K2 archaeological site, and further notes that, on 11 July 2016, the State Party has submitted to the World Heritage Centre new material on progress with the development of the conservation plans for all the archaeological sites and a programme to address the serious deterioration reported by the 2012 mission, in line with Decision 36 COM 7B.48 and that this material will be reviewed by ICOMOS;
7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018.