Information on Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Conference Venues South Africa brings you information on Boksburg situated in the Gauteng Province of South Africa including information on history, economy and location of Boksburg.

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History of Boksburg

Originally, Boksburg was laid out in 1887 to serve the surrounding gold mines, and named after the State Secretary of the South African Republic, Eduard Bok. The Main Reef Road linked Boksburg to all the other major mining towns on the Witwatersrand, and the Angelo Hotel was used as a production post. A railway was built to connect Boksburg to Johannesburg in 1890.

Boksburg lake made world headlines in 1989 when the newly elected Conservative Party municipality decided to fence off the lake and prevent non-whites from using the site. Segregation policies were taken to such an extreme that when council granted transfer of lease of the Golden Lake Restaurant on the lake premises from S.Y Ho to another Chinese woman, S.Y Yip, it was with the provision that the new lease barred nonwhites-including Chinese, from dining there. Controversy surrounding the safety of the lake was created when Councellor Stephanie Greyling made the following statement: “the lake is now safe. Boksburg Lake was like a second Chicago with more than a 100 murders in 18 months

However, official figures were given as 27, and this included the number of people who died in the neighbouring Boksburg Benoni Hospital. Statistics released by the offices of the Minister of Law and Order listed only two murders at Boksburg Lake from November 1986 until November 1988”

As a result of the council’s policies, blacks boycotted the CBD, and commercial sales dropped 40% to 70%. Also, The Lake became the focal point on the East Rand for violent racial clashes between Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) supporters and African National Congress (ANC) supporting Coloureds and Blacks from the neighbouring townships. The decision to re-introduce segregation at the facilities sparked off a local and international outcry, with local Coloured and Black residents initiating a yearlong boycott of shops in the CBD.

Chris Hani, leader of the South African Communist Party and chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), was assassinated outside his Dawn Park, Boksburg home in 1993 and is buried in the town.

For the history lovers, there are numerous historical buildings one can explore. These include the Old Post Office built in 1898, the Law Court since 1890, St Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church designed by the Sir Herbert Baker as well as a few gold mines. The Mining Commissioner Montague White built a large dam which, empty for years, was dubbed White's Folly until a flashflood in 1889 silenced detractors. The 150,000 square metre dam is now the Boksburg Lake and is surrounded by lawns, trees, and terraces.

Towns and Suburbs of the Gauteng province of South Africa

Alberton , Arcadia , Auckland Park , Bardene , Bartlett , Bedfordview , Benoni , Boekenhoutskloof , Boksburg , Bonaero Park , Bredell , Bronkhorstspruit , Brooklyn , Bruma , Brummeria , Bryanston , Centurion , Chartwell , Club View , Constantia Park , Cradle of Humankind , Cullinan , De Wagensdrift , Die Wilgers , Dinokeng , Donkerhoek , Edenvale , Elandsdrift , Eldoraigne , Erasmuskloof , Erasmusrand , Fairland , Farrarmere , Ferndale , Fourways , Gallo Manor , Garsfontein ,Germiston , Glen Austin , Glen Marais , Glenvista , Groenkloof , Halfway House , Hartbeespoort , Hatfield , Heidelberg , Hennopspark , Honeydew , Houghton , Hyde Park , Illovo , Irene , Isando , Jet Park , Johannesburg , Kameeldrift , Kempton Park , Klippoortjie , Knoppieslaagte , Kromdraai , Krugersdorp , Kyalami , Lakefield , Lanseria , Linden , Little Falls , Lonehill , Lynnwood , Lyttelton , Magaliesburg , Melrose , Melville , Menlo Park , Menlyn , Meyersdal , Meyerspark , Midrand , Mnandi , Modderfontein , Mondeor , Monrick , Montana , Morningside , Muldersdrift , Murrayfield , New Redruth , Newmarket , Nigel, Noordheuwel , Northcliff , North Riding , OR Tambo Airport , Ormonde , Parktown , Pretoria , Pretoria East , Pomona , Randburg , Randfontein , Randhart , Raslouw , Ravenswood , Riviera, Rivonia , Roodepoort , Rosebank , Rosherville , Ruimsig , Rust de Winter , Samrand , Sandown , Sandton , Sandhurst , Selection Park , Silver Lakes , Solheim , Springs , Sunninghill , The Reeds , Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark , Walkerville , Wapadrand , Waterkloof , Waverley , Weltevredenpark , Westcliff , Woodmead