In a remarkable twist, Johannesburg’s toxic gold mine dumps are transforming into thriving habitats where zebra, wildebeest, and blesbok now roam. At sites like the Brakpan Tailings Facility, DRDGold is carrying out remining to extract leftover gold. But beyond that, the company is also restoring the land with indigenous vegetation and reintroducing wildlife. This process, referred to as concurrent rehabilitation, has helped contain harmful dust, improve biodiversity, and reclaim hundreds of hectares of land. Once symbols of environmental degradation, these tailings are becoming green spaces poised for mixed-use development. While DRDGold’s work will effectively erase mine dumps and tailings, a fixture in Johannesburg’s landscape for decades, the sight of wildlife roaming these reclaimed sites is a powerful symbol of renewal—and a glimpse into a cleaner, more sustainable Johannesburg.
Daily Maverick
