WIReDSpace

Welcome to WIReDSpace (Wits Institutional Repository on DSpace)

For queries relating to content and technical issues, please contact IR specialists via this email address : openscholarship.library@wits.ac.za,
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Communities in WIReDSpace

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 19

Recent Submissions

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    Optimizing the Treatment of Invasive CandidiasisA Case for Combination Therapy
    R Wake; Phoebe E Allebone-Salt; Larissa LH John; Ben Caswall; Nelesh Govender; Lyle Murray; E et al
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    Ruin, Repair and the Hinterland: Adapting ruin in the East Rand, Ekurhuleni to form an Ecology Centre in the repair of post-extraction landscapes
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2025-02) Edgar, Jack Douglas; Stone-Johnson, Brigitta
    The Witwatersrand Mining Belt, a vast 100 km stretch in Gauteng, South Africa, bears the scars of extensive mining. This study focuses on Springs, a town deeply marked by the extraction of resources such as gold, coal, and clay. The aftermath of these activities is a landscape marred by toxic mine tailings, contaminated soil, and disrupted water systems, leading to the decline of indigenous ecosystems and the spread of invasive species. Current industrial proposals suggest further exploitation of these areas as dumpsites, worsening the environmental predicament. This thesis explores the environmental impact of mining activities in the Witwatersrand Mining Belt, focusing on the town of Springs. It highlights the degradation of native ecological systems due to mining and associated industrial development. The study emphasises the need for sensitive handling of these damaged landscapes to protect the environment, communities, and the region’s delicate ecology. It critiques the current approach of viewing post-mining regions as wastelands destined for further degradation and waste management. The research proposes a shift towards renaturing these sites, aiming to resolve major environmental concerns and propagate ecological repair across the East Rand and Witwatersrand mining belt. The thesis underscores the potential for rewilding these post-extractive regions, recalling the forgotten landscape of the Witwatersrand and envisioning a industrial past become catalysts for ecological restoration and community development. The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) sees convert considerable potential for rewilding to these post-mining landscapes into ecological treasures and community resources. This strategy not only seeks to mend environmental damage but also to address the socio-spatial inequalities resulting from apartheid-era planning, which have disproportionately impacted communities like KwaThema located near these blighted lands. The suggested architectural intervention in Springs encompasses the formation of green corridors to link fragmented habitats and the development of a hub for ecological restoration and community learning. Employing sustainable design principles and materials salvaged from local demolition sites, my proposed intervention acts as a bridge between the ecological requirements of the landscape and the social needs of its inhabitants. By turning symbols of degradation into symbols of resilience, the project imagines a future where post-mining landscapes are rejuvenated, promoting both ecological health and community prosperity.
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    Wasteland/Wetland Rewilding Water Systems in the Post Mining Landscape in the Nigel Region
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-02) Moll, Georgia Stephanie; Johnson, Brigitta Stone
    The 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 regulation. 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 runoff. 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.
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    Developing International Consensus on Key Indicators for a 24Hour Movement Behaviour Report Card in Early Childhood A TwinPanel Delphi Study
    Wendy Y Huang; Danqing Zhang; Mark S Tremblay; Martin C S Wong; Catherine Draper; Alessandra Prioreschi; et al et al