Mining Landscapes of the Gauteng City-Region

GCRO RESEARCH REPORT # NO. 07 MINING LANDSCAPES OF THE GAUTENG CITY-REGION JANUARY 2018 Edited by Kerry Bobbins and Guy Trangoš Contributions by Potsiso Phasha, Siân Butcher and Janet Munakamwe A PARTNERSHIP OF MINING LANDSCAPES OF THE GAUTENG CITY-REGION JANUARY 2018 Copyright 2018 © Gauteng City-Region Observatory ISBN: 978-0-620-74637-3 Published by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory Written by: Kerry Bobbins and Guy Trangoš, with (GCRO), a partnership of the University of contributions from Potsiso Phasha, Siân Butcher Johannesburg, the University of the Witwatersrand, and Janet Munakamwe Johannesburg, the Gauteng Provincial Government Design: Breinstorm Brand Architects and organised local government in Gauteng (SALGA). Cover Image: Potsiso Phasha Mining Landscapes of the Gauteng City-Region ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The editors of this report would like to acknowledge the assistance and significant work of all its contributors, including Potsiso Phasha, Siân Butcher and Janet Munakamwe. We would also like to thank Dr Richard Ballard and Graeme Gotz for their editorial guidance. This document is the product of extensive research over the period 2013-2015, and as such we would like to thank those individuals and organisations that assisted us along the way. These include the Gauteng Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (GDARD), Mariette Liefferink (Federation for a Sustainable Environment), Ingrid Watson (Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry), Dr Hannah Le Roux (University of the Witwatersrand School of Architecture and Planning), Tahira Toffa, Prof Tracy-Lynn Humby (University of the Witwatersrand School of Law) and the Department of Environment and Infrastructure Services at the City of Johannesburg. 001 MINING LANDSCAPES OF THE GAUTENG CITY-REGION TABLE OF CONTENTS Photograph by Potsiso Phasha Contents 1. MINING LANDSCAPES OF THE GCR .........................................................................................................................006 Guy Trangoš and Kerry Bobbins Context .................................................................................................................................................................................................006 Mining’s impact on the landscape: A synthesis ..............................................................................................................................010 Overview ..............................................................................................................................................................................................018 2. MAKING THE MINING CITY ......................................................................................................................................022 Guy Trangoš Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................................022 Landscapes of pleasure ......................................................................................................................................................................038 Landscapes of production .................................................................................................................................................................047 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................056 3. THE HIDDEN LEGACIES OF GOLD .............................................................................................................................062 Kerry Bobbins Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................................062 The lasting reminders of gold ............................................................................................................................................................064 Risk trade-offs .....................................................................................................................................................................................076 Information on the effects of mine waste on the environment ...................................................................................................080 Addressing environmental mining waste legacies of the Witwatersrand ...................................................................................081 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................082 002 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4. PHOTO ESSAY 1 ...........................................................................................................................................................086 Kerry Bobbins 5. HUMAN HEALTH IMPLICATIONS .............................................................................................................................098 Kerry Bobbins Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................................098 Implications of historic mine waste on human health ...................................................................................................................100 An environmental justice concern ....................................................................................................................................................107 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................................113 6. PHOTO ESSAY 2 ...........................................................................................................................................................118 Janet Munakamwe 7. PHOTO ESSAY 3 ............................................................................................................................................................130 Potsiso Phasha 8.FUTURE MINING LANDSCAPES .................................................................................................................................162 Guy Trangoš and Kerry Bobbins Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................................162 Existing programmes ...........................................................................................................................................................................166 Collective visions ................................................................................................................................................................................171 Integrated futures ...............................................................................................................................................................................175 REFERENCE LIST ..............................................................................................................................................................178 003 MINING LANDSCAPES OF THE GAUTENG CITY-REGION LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: Gold mining in Johannesburg forms only a small component of broader gold-mining activities on the global scale ...............................................................................................................................................................................012 FIGURE 2: The Witwatersrand Goldfield is located across the West Rand, Central Rand and East Rand ......................014 FIGURE 3: An overview of mine residue areas found along the Witwatersrand which have now become a feature of the Highveld landscape .................................................................................................................................................................017 FIGURE 4: Mine workers’ hostel at Geldenhuis Deep mine .....................................................................................................025 FIGURE 5: Cyanide and battery works at Geldenhuis Deep mine ...........................................................................................026 FIGURE 6: Underground pillar and tunnel at Geldenhuis Deep mine .....................................................................................026 FIGURE 7: Miners entering the shaft at Geldenhuis Deep mine .............................................................................................027 FIGURE 8: Miners at Geldenhuis Deep mine ..............................................................................................................................027 FIGURE 9: Market Street in Johannesburg .................................................................................................................................029 FIGURE 10: Sand dump at City Deep mine .................................................................................................................................031 FIGURE 11: An aerial photograph of Johannesburg, south of the inner city, detailing

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