UPDATE: Boksburg Lake water rehabilitation project in limbo

The outstanding phase of the project was last year put on hold due to budgetary constrains.

July 10, 2024

Fanie Mthupha 1 minute read

Workers fished out the waste and other pollutants that found their way into the dam and clogged the weir. However, the mountain of litter was then dumped on the shores.

Residents may have to spend another year of putting up with the unpleasant stench from the water in Boksburg Lake, as the project to rehabilitate the public facility has not even received a mention in the city’s 2024/25 budget.

The water rehabilitation project has not even received a mention in this year’s budget.

In efforts to address the environmental crisis at the lake, the city started a R34m three-phase rehabilitation project in October 2021.
And this saw the appointed contractor leaving the site after completing phase one and two of the project. These phases entailed clearance, construction of a weir, bridge, gabions, and litter traps.

The outstanding last phase (phase 3) entails debris diversion structure, aeration of the lake and further clearance.
According to the metro, the last phase of the project was put on hold due to budgetary constrains, and stated that it would remain on hold until budget availability.

The Boksburg Advertiser reached out to the metro for explanation as to why the project was not accommodated in the current financial year budget. No response was received at the time of compiling this report.