R65m to rehabilitate the notorious Johannesburg’s Bruma Lake

Bruma Lake was a once-vibrant business environment with a flea market and restaurant strip along the lake.

The first phase of the City of Johannesburg’s R65-million project to rehabilitate Bruma Lake, east of Johannesburg, into a recreational park will finish later this month.

In June last year the lake was drained and the silt left to dry.

Engineers diverted the Jukskei River from the centre of the lake and built a channel.

Bruma Lake was a once-vibrant business environment with a flea market and restaurant strip along the lake.

However, it lost its shine over the years because of water contamination caused by washing powder, motor oil, sewage, litter and other debris that flowed in from the Jukskei River.

Daniel Masemola, deputy director of water quality and catchment management for the city, said: “The remedial work aims to reduce the public health risks and to restore the aesthetics and amenity of the area.”

Masemola said the concrete base and sides of the lake meant it could not support vegetation and it trapped pollutants and sediment entering the lake.

Development of the parkland is supported by the key stakeholders around the lake, including the Bruma Business Community.

Business owners said their businesses are suffering because of the foul water and they welcomed the initiative.

“There was a bad smell coming from the lake and this affected shoppers and business here. We are hoping the place will turn around once it has been rehabilitated,” said shop owner Shez Sadiq.

The first phase of the rehabilitation process has cost the city a little more than R20-million.

Phase two, which involves landscaping, is expected to start now and will be completed by the end of June.