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MINING Mining activities and the extraction of gold, chiefly in the mining belt directly to the south of the Johannesburg CBD (where ore has a relatively high uranium content), artificially enhances the concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive elements in mine tailing dams. Radioactive minerals from the mine tailings could enter the environment by airborne dust and leaching into waterways. The key mining issues are: Dust from mines, particularly apparent in informal settlements, which are presently located in the peripheral areas. Smoke emanating from this area trap the dust particles blowing from the mines. INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN GREATER JOHANNESBURG
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT The overcrowding of the inner city with migrants who are unemployed and/ or are unable to pay the housing rents leads to a serious decay of the flats/buildings in the inner city. The measurement of serious decay includes accommodation which does not have functioning toilets (7%), electricity (3%), drains that are regularly blocked (20%), and leaking water pipes (25%). High densities and poor living conditions with insufficient provision (or maintenance) of services, due to urbanisation contribute to the poor level of environmental health in parts of the CBD. |
