Rectification Of The Unlawful Clearance And Cultivation Of Agricultural Land On Farms Re/28/118 Palmiet Rivier And Re/1/118 Palmiet Rivier, Mossel Bay, Western Cape: NEMA Section 24G Rectification Process

RECTIFICATION OF THE UNLAWFUL CLEARANCE AND CULTIVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND ON FARMS RE/28/118 PALMIET RIVIER AND RE/1/118 PALMIET RIVIER, MOSSEL BAY, WESTERN CAPE: S24G APPLICATION FORM AND NOTIFICATION OF AVAILABILITY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DOCUMENT FOR COMMENT

NEMA SECTION 24G RECTIFICATION PROCESS:
DEA&DP Ref No.: 14/2/4/1/D6/6/0013/23
Heritage Western Cape Ref No.: HWC24050307SB0503

Between November 2017 and April 2018, Ruiterbosch Agri (Pty) Ltd (hereafter referred to as ‘the Applicant’) completed the clearance of vegetation adjacent to existing agricultural areas. Six areas totaling 11.31 ha of ‘virgin soil’ were cleared for cultivation of avocado and citrus farming. The majority of the subject areas did have a history of prior agricultural usage but had lain fallow for an extended period. These areas were used for agricultural activities prior to this. The aforementioned activities commenced without obtaining an Environmental Authorisation.

Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants has been appointed by Ruiterbosch Agri (Pty) Ltd to undertake the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment process for the project (in this case a Section 24G process) in accordance with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) (No. 107 of 1998), as amended, EIA Regulations (2014).

The S24G Draft Application Form has been made available to the public for review for a 30- day comment period from 12 November 2025 to 12 December 2025 and is downloadable via the link below. Registered Interested & Affected Parties (I&APs) have 30 days, i.e. until 12 December 2025 to submit comments related to the proposed project.. Any comments received from I&APs will be incorporated into a Comments and Response Report 2 (CRR2) and will be included in the Final S24G Application Form, following which the Application will be submitted to the DEA&DP for decision-making.

Should you have any comments, issues, or concerns regarding the project or the findings of the Draft S24G Application Form, please provide your comments in writing to Ms. Shannon Hyslop of Holland & Associates Environmental Consultants, by email or post (email: ruiterbosch.ppp@hollandandassociates.net or post: PostNet Suite #108, Private Bag X12, Tokai, 7966), on or before 12 December 2025.

An electronic copy of the Draft S24G Application Form as well as its appendices can be downloaded via the OneDrive link below: