Stand on the terraces above the water at Boksburg Lake and you are looking at the result of a gamble: a dam that stood empty for years, mocked as "White's folly", until a cloudburst filled it overnight. The lake is still the centre of the city, ringed by lawns and trees.
Boksburg suits travellers passing through the East Rand who want a half-day of history and open air rather than a full itinerary. This guide covers the sights in and around the city, and how to string them together if your time is short.
Top things to do in Boksburg
1. Boksburg Lake
The lake began as a dam built on the orders of Mining Commissioner Montague White, who wanted a proper sheet of water and trees in place of the muddy vlei that once lay north of the town. It stood empty for nearly two years and was nicknamed "White's folly" until a cloudburst north of the dam filled it overnight. It has been a popular feature of the central area ever since.
Come for the lawns, trees and terraces that surround the water. It is the natural anchor for a day in Boksburg, so pair it with the town-centre sights rather than treating it as a separate trip.
2. Chris Hani Memorial
The memorial sits at Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park in Boksburg and was revealed during the 22nd commemoration of Chris Hani's death. The site consists of the Monument, the Walk of Remembrance and the Wall of Remembrance, which recognises the historical events, places and people associated with the liberation struggle of South Africa.
Allow time to walk the full site rather than stopping at the monument alone, since the Walk and the Wall carry much of the interpretation.
3. Bokkie Park
Bokkie Park is one of the city's public open spaces and a straightforward stop for a walk or a break between other sights.
It works well as a breather between the memorial and the lake, both of which involve more reading and reflection.
4. Boksburg Stadium
Boksburg Stadium is the city's main sporting venue and a recognisable landmark in its own right.
Check locally whether anything is on before you go, and otherwise treat it as a quick look while you are moving between the lake and the town centre.
5. South African Airways Museum
This museum is at the TAC building at Rand Airport in Germiston, and it is the pick of the aviation and industrial history sights in the wider Ekurhuleni area. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10AM to 4PM and Sunday from 10AM to 3PM.
It is a good half-day in itself, so give it a clear slot rather than squeezing it between Boksburg stops. Phone ahead on +27 82 219-1861 if your plans depend on it.
6. AECI Dynamite Factory Museum
At 2 Main St in Modderfontein, this museum covers the history of explosives, especially in relation to mining in South Africa. It is open Monday to Friday from 10AM to 2PM, with an extra Wednesday session from 2PM to 4:30PM.
The weekday-only hours mean it needs planning. Contact +27 11 606-3206 before travelling, and combine it with the mining history you will read about in Boksburg itself.
7. O.R. Tambo Narrative Centre
At 3061 Tame Ave in Wattville, the centre tells visitors about the lives and contributions of the Tambo couple towards the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa. It stands on the banks of the Leeupan Wetland and also has an exhibition of environmental education aimed at children.
The wetland setting and the children's exhibition make this the most family-friendly of the historical stops in the area.
8. Thokoza Wall of Remembrance
This is a small memorial site commemorating the 688 people killed in fighting between the Inkatha Freedom Party and ANC members during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
It is a brief stop, best paired with the other remembrance sites in the area rather than visited on its own.
9. St Boniface Church
At 129 Meyer St in Germiston, this is a historic Anglican church built in 1910.
It suits travellers already heading towards Germiston for the aviation museum, since both are in the same direction from Boksburg.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Boksburg Lake, walking the terraces and lawns while the day is still cool, then move on to the Chris Hani Memorial at Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park and take in the Monument, the Walk of Remembrance and the Wall of Remembrance.
Afternoon: Stop at Bokkie Park for a break, then look in at Boksburg Stadium before heading towards Germiston for the South African Airways Museum at Rand Airport, which is open until 4PM from Tuesday to Saturday and until 3PM on Sunday.
Evening: Return to the central area around Boksburg Lake, which remains the natural place to end a day in the city.
Frequently asked questions
What is the story behind Boksburg Lake?
It was built as a dam on the initiative of Mining Commissioner Montague White, who wanted to replace the muddy vlei north of the town with a proper lake fringed with trees. It stood empty for nearly two years and was called "White's folly" until a cloudburst filled it overnight, after which it became a popular feature of the central area.
When can I visit the South African Airways Museum?
It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10AM to 4PM and Sunday from 10AM to 3PM. It is at the TAC building at Rand Airport in Germiston.
When is the AECI Dynamite Factory Museum open?
Monday to Friday from 10AM to 2PM, with an additional Wednesday session from 2PM to 4:30PM. It is at 2 Main St in Modderfontein.
What does the Chris Hani Memorial include?
The site at Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park consists of the Monument, the Walk of Remembrance and the Wall of Remembrance, which recognises the historical events, places and people associated with the liberation struggle of South Africa.
Decide which of these fits your route through the East Rand, check the weekday opening times for the museums, and you have enough to start planning.