Famous South African lake now a polluted mess where nobody wants to go
Boksburg Lake, a once bustling recreational hub with boating, fishing, and swimming, has become a polluted mess despite millions spent on it.
Boksburg Lake’s history is closely tied to the town, which forms part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng.
Like many other towns and cities in Gauteng, Boksburg has its roots in mining. Gold was discovered in the area in 1887, and coal in 1888.
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 the water supply.
The dam was initially seen as a failure. 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 Boksburg Lake, surrounded by lawns, trees, and terraces, became a popular and attractive feature.
Historical accounts describe it as a destination for yachting, rowing, swimming championships, and weekend concerts.
It became known as a pleasure resort in the East Rand, serving as a premier destination for social life and high-level sporting events.
Boksburg Lake hosted prestigious rowing and swimming championships, as well as regular yachting regattas.
The water was frequently filled with sailing yachts and rowing boats, creating a vibrant visual landscape.
The area around the water was meticulously maintained with terraces and lawns, making it a popular spot for picnics and social strolls.
The decline of Boksburg Lake
Over the past few decades, Boksburg Lake has declined significantly and 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,” he wrote.
This inflow comes from sewerage leaking into the municipal stormwater system, which drains into the lake.
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 poor personal safety, the unpleasant odour of the lake water, litter lining the lake, and the degraded amenities.
The try to address these problems, the City of Ekurhuleni commissioned contractors to carry out multi-phased refurbishment projects.
The city spent millions on contractors to restore the lake and the surrounding park to their former glory after decades of neglect. However, this did not happen.
BusinessTech visited the Boksburg Lake in February 2026, and it remains run-down and polluted. It is nowhere near its former glory.
The facility’s entrance is overgrown and run-down, there is litter around the area, and the water remains polluted.
It was clear that little progress had been made to ensure that Boksburg Lake became a hotspot for entertainment and sport again.
Boksburg Lake sewage disaster
In October 2025, the Freedom Front Plus bemoaned the Ekurhuleni Metro’s Department of Water and Sanitation’s tardy response to the pollution crisis at Boksburg Lake.
It said the Ekurhuleni Metro only became aware of the sewage pollution after the Freedom Front Plus reported it.
“This is despite the fact that the pollution was obvious for several months,” the Freedom Front Plus said in a press statement.
It explained that the sewer pipe carried household sewage and chemical waste from nearby industries, for which there is no record.
“Repairing a damaged pipe, however, does nothing to rehabilitate the polluted Lake or the stream into which the waste was spilling,” the FF Plus said.
The part demanded further steps, including an independent water and soil test to determine the extent and severity of the pollution.
The party also reported the incident to the Gauteng Department of Environmental Affairs, requesting that it launch an investigation into the matter.
This investigation should include negligence and draft a rehabilitation plan with deadlines and specific obligations.
“The Boksburg Lake is not only filthy, but also sick. The natural environment around the Boksburg Lake needs targeted intervention,” it said.
Boksburg Lake photos – February 2026
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