Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)
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Item “Artful Sustainability” Inquiry into Urban Waste and Public Space Practices: a Case Study of Riverside View Mega City, Johannesburg(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mantshoane, Trevor; Charlton, SarahThe UN-Habitat (2021a, p. 29) has been spearheading efforts at ensuring that “placemaking institutionalizes the role of art and culture to achieve a lasting sense of place for [communities]” as per the SDG 11 agenda. Place-making foregrounds the central role of communities in ensuring quality and liveable public spaces often through arts-led interventions. To date, little research exists on how this global place-making agenda is faring at the neighbourhood level. Even less studied are the arts and cultural (ecosystem) services of public space and the impact of waste on people’s ability to benefit from these services. Against the global place-making agenda, this research artistically interrogates the eco-cultural dimensions of sustainability issues of waste and public spaces. It does this through a case study of Riverside View Mega City, Johannesburg (South Africa) This qualitative research study uses a case study strategy and draws on a range of practices broadly associated with the arts-based and practice- based methods. The study utilises a set of methodological tools like drawings, written and photo diaries to gain a window into the resident participants’ embodied experiences of waste and public space. In all, the research finds that waste malpractices have a disruptive impact on the residents’ ability to benefit from the eco-cultural services of public spaces in Riverside View Mega City. Consequently, public spaces are generally perceived and experienced negatively, although this is not uniform across all sections of the settlement. Moreover, efforts at institutionalising the arts and culture through place-making interventions remain ambiguous with little apparent relevance to the everyday sustainability issue of waste and public spaces.Item Evaluating the state’s response to flooding disasters: the case of deelpan village emergency housing(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Rirhandzu, ChumaOver the past few years, South Africa has been struggling with managing flooding episodes. From a housing point of view, one then worries about the living conditions of the poor people who do not have the necessary resources to recover from the effects of the disaster, like the people of Deelpan Village in the North West province. To obtain data for this research, I analysed secondary data in relation to disaster management, housing, and planning accessed from government websites. I also conducted a total of 18 semi-structured interviews with the officials and community representatives who were actively involved in the Deelpan Village emergency housing project. This study revealed that the people of Deelpan preferred permanent housing structures over temporary solutions; hence, the Temporary Residential Units have not been provided. The study concluded that the Deelpan residents rejected TRUs for permanent structures due to fear of state failure. Three years after the 2021 flooding, no housing support has been provided by the state, indicating a lack of resources to handle disasters.Item Sacred Landscapes Under Siege: "Resolving disputes over mining claims on sacred landscapes in Musina through the legal lens of a Land Court"(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mamabolo, MokgadiThe proposed site for this dissertation is situated in Musina in the Vhembe District, close to the Limpopo River, which forms the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. This area is well-known for its varied topography, which includes bushveld and savannah, as well as important natural and cultural landmarks like the esteemed Mapungubwe National Park. Historically, Musina has been successful in trade, farming, and mining which have served as the main pillars of the economy. The town is well-known for having an abundance of mineral resources, including copper, iron ore, and coal, which have made investments and created jobs that have greatly boosted the local economy. The Save Mapungubwe Coalition has been having concerns about “the possible dangerous precedent set by the lack of clarity of the offset created by this agreement. The offset agreement is an important tool for ensuring that (Coal of Africa) CoAL restores all of the ecosystems that have been depleted as a result of their mining activities” (Melissa, 2014). They emphasise the danger mining operations have on archaeological sites and the ecological balance of the Vhembe Region. This dissertation aims to unpack the historical dimensions of eco-centric architecture, particularly focusing on the nuanced relationship between indigenous African mining practices and the surrounding landscapes. It seeks to shed light on the intricate balance between culture, spirituality, heritage, and the extractive mining industry. By examining the temporality of mining and the transient nature of the miner’s experience by looking at lungs as the metaphor of the temporality of breathing. Through a critical analysis of guiding principles employed in eco-centric architecture, this dissertation aims to explore the potential significance of what a building means in a landscape where biodiversity, culture, spirituality, heritage, and mining coexist. This dissertation will address post-mining landscapes through land reparation and restitution, the idea of Land Reparation and Restitution in this dissertation aims to extend beyond environmental rewilding, restoration by studying the legal framework of mining in South Africa and integrating social justice, heritage, and ecological sustainability strategies. The historian Pulido states: “Not merely about returning land to those who were displaced but also about restoring the relationship between people and the land that sustains them” (Pulido, 2018). The land court symbolizes transformation, reconciliation and justice for the environment, biodiversity, and human life. In the context of Musina, this thesis will explore ways of reparation can be conceptualised and executed given the interconnectedness histories of mining, colonization, and indigenous land use in Musina. The land Court will not only solve mining issues in Musina, but it will be advocating for land mining disputes around South Africa. It is influenced by concerns raised by the Save Mapungubwe Coalition regarding the proposed Industrial Park by the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), South Africa’s landscapes are not only resourced but hold so much history, archaeological elements hence preserving these sacred landscape, historical mining site and indigenous knowledges are very important. Lynn Meskell explains that “Archives of cultural and spiritual heritage that reflect centuries of human-environment interaction” are important (Meskell, 2019). An area such as Musina, where we find a national archelogical site, the Mapungubwe Abstract Cultural landscape being approximately 7km from the Vele Colliery, has a coal mine is an indication a historical precedent that the coexistence of mining and scared site is not sustainable. “The Save Mapungubwe Coalition is made up of a diverse range of groups, with expertise in everything from conservation to water and even heritage resources.” (“Mapungubwe Watch - Wits University,” n.d.) Ultimately, it aims to address questions regarding the role of the landscape in addressing the challenges left behind by coal mining and, in turn, how we can embark on the journey of healing the scars inflicted on these environments through ecologically sound restoration efforts, all while honouring the cultural heritage inherent in the site. Through the legal lens, how can we reimagine a land court that advocates for sacred landscapes, community including the mine workers’ lives?Item Cultivating Terraformation - Propagating agronomic empowerment through agricultural waste transformation in the farming corridor of Ofcolaco, Limpopo(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mc Dougall, Kayla KateCultivating Terraformation is an exploration into the intertwined lives of the farm, the farmer and the farm worker. In the remote farming corridor of Ofcolaco, Limpopo, where history’s shadows still linger, a community is beginning to reawaken. The thesis traces the deep colonial roots of land once taken and now in the slow, tender process of being restored to those from whom it was seized. In these lands, a vision unfolds — a vision of uniting the farm, farmer, and farm worker to stand as a beacon of renewal and progression. The core of the research centres around the complex dynamics between the emerging black farmer and the generational white farmer. These two figures, bound by the same land but divided by history, represent both the obstacles and opportunities for transformation. As these farmers adapt to life in post-apartheid South Africa the tensions, alliances, and possibilities become the forefront of change. The goal is the harmonization of the relationship between farm, farmer, and farm worker. The objective is to break the sector's cycle of inequality through the creation of a new beacon in agriculture that unites and uplifts. This new sector aims to connect the land, those who own it, and those who work it, and join in on a journey of mutual development and empowerment. Central to this vision is the concept of material activism to unite all three entities of the agricultural sector. This approach redefines not only what the land and its people can produce but how it can sustain’ the environment and uplift its people. Through this alchemy, the study seeks to shape a post- apartheid farming industry that is more than a place -— it is a symbol that guides the agricultural sector toward a shared future. The aspirational endeavour seeks to offer the research as a blueprint for a reimagined agricultural landscape in South Africa. By addressing historical divides and present environmental challenges the systematic change strives to heal old wounds and cultivate new growth. The vision is a future where the scared land of our nation becomes a canvas of renewal, painting a picture of unity and resilience where the scars of the past are transformed into a tapestry of hope and harmonyItem Wasteland/ WetlandRewilding Water Systems in the Post- Mining Landscape in the Nigel Region(2024) Moll, Georgia StephanieThe Witwatersrand region, renowned for its historical mining activities, grapples with environmental degradation, particularly in its water systems. Mining operations have left a legacy of pollution through practices such as the disposal of mine waste in tailings located on or nearby rivers and wetlands, driven by convenience and insufficient regulation1 . This creates significant threats to the natural ecology and biodiversity of the region, such as acid mine drainage, which continues to impact water quality and ecosystem health long after mining activities have ceased, leading to the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, habitats, and breeding zones. Despite these challenges, research suggests that wetlands hold the key to addressing these challenges. Wetlands can be used to naturally filter wastewater, which can contain sediments and pollutants, improving water quality. They are also crucial in nutrient cycling, processing elements like nitrogen and phosphorus which are commonly found in mine runoff2 . The potential for wetlands to act as natural decontaminators highlights their importance in ecological repair and water security for the region. In areas where natural wetlands have been significantly damaged, constructed wetlands present a viable solution. These engineered systems can be strategically placed within damaged waterscapes to treat contaminated water through natural filtration. My thesis proposes an expansion of constructed wetlands into a multifunctional building typology designed to filter water as it flows through the structure. By incorporating various filtration processes and different types of constructed wetlands within the building, this concept aims to provide a pilot design that can be scaled and adapted for implementation in other contaminated sites throughout the region. The proposed building will serve multiple roles in filtration, showcasing a scalable solution for water decontamination and ecological restoration. By establishing this model, the project seeks to improve water security, restore ecological balance, and provide a blueprint for similar initiatives in other regions affected by mining- related environmental degradation. Through this research, I will research the potential for wetlands—both natural and constructed—to serve as a foundation of environmental remediation and sustainability in the Witwatersrand region