Follow-up: Who’s fooling whom over Bokkie Park pollution? [VIDEO]
Serious environmental questions have been raised over Bokkie Park sewage leak.
Despite firm assurances from the metro dismissing claims of sewage contamination at the deteriorating Bokkie Park, a return visit to the site this week revealed visible, ongoing pollution flowing directly into the park’s dam system.
The Boksburg Advertiser previously reported that Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos alleged that raw sewage had been contaminating the park’s on-site water sources.
In response to the newspaper’s request for comment, the metro rejected the claim, describing it as “untrue”.
However, the Advertiser’s latest site inspection contradicts the metro’s earlier denial and intensifies concerns about the environmental condition of Bokkie Park, one of Boksburg’s most valued public spaces.
Guided by the resident who first identified the leak in early January and reported it to the councillor, the Advertiser revisited the location this week, finding that grey, murky water flowed from a damaged sewer line into the park’s dam system, and a foul stench, consistent with sewage contamination, was noticeable even before reaching the area.
The apparent source is a fractured underground asbestos sewer pipe situated near the wetland on the corner of Trichardts and Southvale roads.
Caught on Camera:
De Vos said the situation appeared to reflect sustained contamination rather than an isolated incident, raising urgent questions about environmental management, public health risks and municipal transparency.
“This situation raises serious questions. On what basis did the metro categorically deny reports of sewage contamination, and who verified those findings on site before that denial was issued? What risk does this pose to park visitors, wildlife and downstream systems? And why were residents’ concerns so readily dismissed?” he asked.
“I cannot understand how this might have been missed. The problem is visible to the naked eye and detectable by smell alone.”
At the time of publication, the metro had not responded to the Advertiser’s follow-up questions.
Also Read: VIDEO: Shoddy work cited as cause of endless Lilianton sewage spills
