Famous South African lake goes from popular recreational hub to polluted mess-by SETH THORNE

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2025-02-06 at 17:21 #461566

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Famous South African lake goes from popular recreational hub to polluted mess-by SETH THORNE

Despite tens of millions of rands thrown at it, the Boksburg Lake, a once bustling recreational hub with boating, fishing, and swimming, has become a polluted mess.

The former hub for recreation in the town has suffered from significant pollution for many years due to industrial discharge, stormwater runoff, littering, and sewage leaks.

This has decimated the water quality, harming wildlife in the area, impacting residents’ lives, killing business operations, and posing health risks.

Rehabilitation efforts have been plentiful and pricy, but one visit to the lake will show that it is far from its former glory.

Boksburg is part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in the East Rand of Gauteng. Initially part of several highveld farms, it began developing in 1887 after gold was discovered on the Leeuwpoort farm.

In 1888, coal was discovered in the area, further boosting its growth. These discoveries led to the establishment of the town, named after State Secretary of the Transvaal Republic, Willem Eduard Bok.

With the influx of people, a muddy vlei was transformed into a 150,000 square metre dam to improve water supply.

The dam was initially seen as a failure and called “White’s folly”. However, this changed when it was filled by heavy rains in 1891, creating a lake that became a prominent feature of the town.

By the end of the 19th century, Boksburg had developed into a bustling mining and industrial hub. The lake, surrounded by lawns, trees, and terraces, became a popular and attractive feature.

The decline of the Boksburg Lake

Over the past few decades, Boksburg Lake has significantly declined and has lost its appeal as a recreational hub.

Francois P. Coetzee’s investigation into the proposed rehabilitation noted that the decline was linked to the poor sewage system.

“The critical problem with the Boksburg Lake is the constant inflow of suspended solids and nutrients from the sewerage leaking into the municipal stormwater system that drains into the lake,” he said.

Apart from the loss of the lake’s appeal to residents, the pollution has killed much of the once-healthy ecosystem.

Residents also complained about the poor personal safety, the unpleasant odour of the lake water, the aesthetically unattractive litter that lines the lake, and the degraded amenities.

BusinessTech visited the once very popular and important public amenity, which has now decayed into an unsightly, unsafe and contaminated water body.

Only one entrance is open to the public, another victim of years of neglect. Overgrown vegetation is rife, litter riddles the walkways, and the odour coming from the water is both strong and putrid.

The odor of the lake is repulsive, with sewage rife

Millions down the drain

In response to concerns over the run-down state of the lake, the City of Ekurhuleni has, for almost a decade, commissioned contractors to carry out multi-phased refurbishment projects.

This has seen the city pumping tens of millions of rands into contractors to bring the park back to its former glory after decades of neglect. One initiative was completed in 2015 with a budget of R15 million.

The project expanded the park by 10,000 square meters and saw the installation of perimeter fencing, controlled access points, and brick-paved walkways.

It included a 500-seater amphitheatre and recreational facilities like a climbing wall, jungle gyms, sports courts, and braai areas.

However, the new features that took years of construction are already falling apart.

In 2023, the City of Ekurhuleni launched a R33 million rehabilitation project encompassing weir repairs, bridge preparation, floating wetland installation, trash catchments, and embankment stabilisation.

“Our main objective is to ensure that the lake becomes a recreational facility that serves its purpose to the fullest,” the city said in 2023.

“We want to see people coming to relax and enjoy themselves here just like they used to before. That is why we invest so much in this facility – it is a critical asset to the community.”

“We must apologise to the public for the delay in completing the project, but we are doing our best to ensure that the lake reopens to the public soonest,” the city added.

Responding to inquiries from the media in 2024, the metro reported that completed work at the lake includes clearance, weir and bridge repairs, and gabion installation.

It also built litter traps, while the remaining phases – debris diversion, aeration, and further clearance – are on hold pending budget availability.

However, our visit showed that the restoration has a long way to go before the lake will return to its former glory.

Ongoing pollution and project delays are rife. Overgrown vegetation, accumulated trash, and the dumping of household waste and rubble, all contributing to the lake’s degradation, remains.

Vandalism and theft of upgraded facilities, such as pipes and fences, further hamper rehabilitation efforts. Even a newly installed weir system, designed to filter debris, is now clogged and ineffective.

The restricted access to most parts of the lake also raises concerns about the overall restoration plan.

Community initiatives

Local organisations and community initiatives have consistently worked to combat Boksburg Lake’s pollution through cleanup drives and awareness campaigns.

These campaigns focussed on litter removal, vegetation clearing, and promoting responsible waste disposal. However, it seems to be an uphill battle.

Acknowledging maintenance and security concerns, the city said that it had developed a maintenance plan and will engage the EMPD for a security assessment to address vandalism.

The city also said it plans to reopen the park, including the boathouse area currently choked by vegetation, with an opening date to be announced.

Regarding the polluted water, the metro said that Environmental Management Inspectors will continuously investigate and enforce anti-pollution legislation.

Despite ongoing rehabilitation projects and investment, the lake continues to struggle, indicating that current strategies are likely inadequate.

When BusinessTech visited the area, several City of Ekurhuleni employees were working on fishing floating trash out of the lake by the bridge.

It was their first day of a 5-month contract, and the workers were concerned about the health risks given that they were sifting through sewage-polluted water without being provided protective equipment like gloves or masks.

BusinessTech reached out to the City of Ekurhuleni for comment. However, we did not get a response by the time of publication. The comment will be added when received.

The former boathouse sits in a sorry state.

Video of the state of the Boksburg Lake
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Famous South African lake goes from popular recreational hub to polluted mess-by SETH THORNE

Despite tens of millions of rands thrown at it, the Boksburg Lake, a once bustling recreational hub with boating, fishing, and swimming, has become a polluted mess.

The former hub for recreation in the town has suffered from significant pollution for many years due to industrial discharge, stormwater runoff, littering, and sewage leaks.

This has decimated the water quality, harming wildlife in the area, impacting residents’ lives, killing business operations, and posing health risks.

Rehabilitation efforts have been plentiful and pricy, but one visit to the lake will show that it is far from its former glory.

Boksburg is part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in the East Rand of Gauteng. Initially part of several highveld farms, it began developing in 1887 after gold was discovered on the Leeuwpoort farm.

In 1888, coal was discovered in the area, further boosting its growth. These discoveries led to the establishment of the town, named after State Secretary of the Transvaal Republic, Willem Eduard Bok.

With the influx of people, a muddy vlei was transformed into a 150,000 square metre dam to improve water supply.

The dam was initially seen as a failure and called “White’s folly”. However, this changed when it was filled by heavy rains in 1891, creating a lake that became a prominent feature of the town.

By the end of the 19th century, Boksburg had developed into a bustling mining and industrial hub. The lake, surrounded by lawns, trees, and terraces, became a popular and attractive feature.

The decline of the Boksburg Lake

Over the past few decades, Boksburg Lake has significantly declined and has lost its appeal as a recreational hub.

Francois P. Coetzee’s investigation into the proposed rehabilitation noted that the decline was linked to the poor sewage system.

“The critical problem with the Boksburg Lake is the constant inflow of suspended solids and nutrients from the sewerage leaking into the municipal stormwater system that drains into the lake,” he said.

Apart from the loss of the lake’s appeal to residents, the pollution has killed much of the once-healthy ecosystem.

Residents also complained about the poor personal safety, the unpleasant odour of the lake water, the aesthetically unattractive litter that lines the lake, and the degraded amenities.

BusinessTech visited the once very popular and important public amenity, which has now decayed into an unsightly, unsafe and contaminated water body.

Only one entrance is open to the public, another victim of years of neglect. Overgrown vegetation is rife, litter riddles the walkways, and the odour coming from the water is both strong and putrid.

The odor of the lake is repulsive, with sewage rife

Millions down the drain

In response to concerns over the run-down state of the lake, the City of Ekurhuleni has, for almost a decade, commissioned contractors to carry out multi-phased refurbishment projects.

This has seen the city pumping tens of millions of rands into contractors to bring the park back to its former glory after decades of neglect. One initiative was completed in 2015 with a budget of R15 million.

The project expanded the park by 10,000 square meters and saw the installation of perimeter fencing, controlled access points, and brick-paved walkways.

It included a 500-seater amphitheatre and recreational facilities like a climbing wall, jungle gyms, sports courts, and braai areas.

However, the new features that took years of construction are already falling apart.

In 2023, the City of Ekurhuleni launched a R33 million rehabilitation project encompassing weir repairs, bridge preparation, floating wetland installation, trash catchments, and embankment stabilisation.

“Our main objective is to ensure that the lake becomes a recreational facility that serves its purpose to the fullest,” the city said in 2023.

“We want to see people coming to relax and enjoy themselves here just like they used to before. That is why we invest so much in this facility – it is a critical asset to the community.”

“We must apologise to the public for the delay in completing the project, but we are doing our best to ensure that the lake reopens to the public soonest,” the city added.

Responding to inquiries from the media in 2024, the metro reported that completed work at the lake includes clearance, weir and bridge repairs, and gabion installation.

It also built litter traps, while the remaining phases – debris diversion, aeration, and further clearance – are on hold pending budget availability.

However, our visit showed that the restoration has a long way to go before the lake will return to its former glory.

Ongoing pollution and project delays are rife. Overgrown vegetation, accumulated trash, and the dumping of household waste and rubble, all contributing to the lake’s degradation, remains.

Vandalism and theft of upgraded facilities, such as pipes and fences, further hamper rehabilitation efforts. Even a newly installed weir system, designed to filter debris, is now clogged and ineffective.

The restricted access to most parts of the lake also raises concerns about the overall restoration plan.

Community initiatives

Local organisations and community initiatives have consistently worked to combat Boksburg Lake’s pollution through cleanup drives and awareness campaigns.

These campaigns focussed on litter removal, vegetation clearing, and promoting responsible waste disposal. However, it seems to be an uphill battle.

Acknowledging maintenance and security concerns, the city said that it had developed a maintenance plan and will engage the EMPD for a security assessment to address vandalism.

The city also said it plans to reopen the park, including the boathouse area currently choked by vegetation, with an opening date to be announced.

Regarding the polluted water, the metro said that Environmental Management Inspectors will continuously investigate and enforce anti-pollution legislation.

Despite ongoing rehabilitation projects and investment, the lake continues to struggle, indicating that current strategies are likely inadequate.

When BusinessTech visited the area, several City of Ekurhuleni employees were working on fishing floating trash out of the lake by the bridge.

It was their first day of a 5-month contract, and the workers were concerned about the health risks given that they were sifting through sewage-polluted water without being provided protective equipment like gloves or masks.

BusinessTech reached out to the City of Ekurhuleni for comment. However, we did not get a response by the time of publication. The comment will be added when received.

The former boathouse sits in a sorry state.

Video of the state of the Boksburg Lake