Abstract
This research focuses on developing former mining sites situated in the south of the City
of Johannesburg that are contaminated with radon gas. This well-located land would be
suitable for development of houses for low – to – moderate-income earners, preferably
those living +10km away from the city centre. Former mining land has been developed in
other countries both in Europe and in America. The results from international experience
shows that houses had been developed on sites contaminated with radon and people had
lived longer than 35 years without contracting lung cancer. The literature reviewed
reveals that radon is the world’s second greatest cause of lung cancer after cigarette
smoke. There are local and international norms and standards that development of land
contaminated with radon should adhere too. In South Africa, the National Nuclear
Regulator (NNR) sets the norms and standards for development of land contaminated
with radon in which compliance with international norms and standards has been
predetermined. Utilisation of the former mining land south of the City of Johannesburg
will reduce development of houses at the periphery and will bring people closer to
employment opportunities, amenities, transportation, services and facilities required for
sustainable housing environment. Radon-contaminated land was visited, and surveys
were administered to get different opinions from people who are close to mine dumps and
those who are far from the Central Business District. The results show that people are
interested and prepared to take the risk of living in areas contaminated with radon. The
City of Johannesburg’s former mining land should therefore be considered to meet the
goals of housing units. Therefore, former mining land should in future be developed for housing purposes, provided approval has been granted by the relevant government
departments.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/4691 |
| Date | 19 March 2008 |
| Creators | Mokoena, Tafita David |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1242479 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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