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Est 2009 Issue 2 - 2015 Tel : 011 023-7588 / 011 402 - 1977 Inner-City Gazette
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Bruma regains its former glory The City of Johannesburg hopes the rehabilitated area will attract more businesses and residents to the neighbourhood, in the vicinity of the busy Eastgate shopping centre and Cyrildene’s thriving China Town Staff Reporter news@inner-city-gazette.co.za
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Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Matshidiso Mfikoe
he City of Johannesburg’s recently launched a R65 million project to rehabilitate Bruma Lake in the eastern part of the city, the metropolitan municipality says in a statement. The lake, regarded as Joburg’s crown jewel, lost its shine following its contamination over several years. The lake was polluted and emitted a foul smell, and had been a source of discomfort and frustration among residents and businesspeople. Residents of surrounding suburbs were able to enjoy the festive season outdoors following the commencement of the first phase of the R65 million project to rehabilitate the lake. Joburg Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Matshidiso Mfikoe says the sludge in the lake was a result of washing powders, motor oil, sewage, litter and other debris flow-
ing into it from the Jukskei River. “After extensive consultation sessions and engineering studies, it was felt that the best option is to restore the surroundings to their natural order and let nature take its course, through filling the lake and reinstating the stream by reshaping the lake basin. It was concluded after the studies that the best way to improve water quality required self-flushing, how nature works unaided, so there could be minimal deposition of sediment or pollutants. This would support the creation of an ecological habitat and restore an ecological linkage between upstream and downstream areas,” she said. Phase 1 of the project, which started in June last year, involved the draining of the lake and drying the silt. The Jukskei River was diverted from the centre of the lake, giving way to the construction of the channel. A significant milestone was achieved on 10 December 2014 when the chan-
nel was completed and a bypass channel closed, thereby allowing the Jukskei River to flow through the newly completed channel. “This is expected to relieve pressure resulting from potential flash floods,” says MMC Mfikoe. The department’s Deputy Director of Water Quality and Catchment Management, Daniel Masemola says should everything go according to plan, phase one of the 12-month project will be finalised around the end of January. “Phase two, which involves landscaping, is expected to start immediately and be completed by the end of June this year. Some sections of the lake will be converted into a recreational park,” he adds. The City of Johannesburg hopes the rehabilitated area will attract more businesses and residents to the neighbourhood, in the vicinity of the busy Eastgate shopping centre and Cyrildene’s thriving China Town.