Decision 45 COM 7B.132

Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (South Africa) (C 915bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.121 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the completion of the Integrated Management Plans (IMP) for all three components of the property, of the Integrated Management Plan Framework (IMPF), as well as the continued monitoring of the risk reduction and risk prevention interventions at the Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs (FHSSSKE) component;
4. Notes that the implementation plan of the IMPF and the IMPs for the individual components are planned up to 2026 and requests the State Party to ensure the Joint Management Committee is established and functioning and to provide an interim monitoring report of the implementation of the IMPF, as an annex to its next state of conservation report, so that the efficacy of the IMPF can be assessed;
5. Also requests the State Party to expedite the development of the Western Basin Treatment Works Long-Term-Solution (LTS), and submit the following: A specialist committee report on the Western Basin Treatment Works LTS at the FHSSSKE component; A report on the choice of the option selected for implementation and the design specification; The design specifications for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for LTS; for review by the Advisory Bodies as soon as these are available and prior to implementation;
6. Further requests the State Party, with the support from the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, and with urgency and including through a Memorandum of Understanding with the local municipality, to address the function of the Percy Stewart Waste-Water Treatment Works to reduce the instances of bacteriological contamination in the surface water of the FHSSSKE component, and to continue monitoring surface water quality and to provide the Committee with a report thereon;
7. Reiterates its request to the State Party for the submission to the World Heritage Centre the Heritage Management Plan, along with an updated masterplan and more detailed information on the proposed renovation of these built attributes, including how they support the historical narrative of this component, and await the review of the Advisory Bodies before further implementation;
8. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, 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 47th session.