Boksburg, situated in the East Rand, is the second oldest town on the Witwatersrand and is an industrial and mining centre, with gold first being discovered in 1887.
In 1887, a small town was set out to sevre some of the Rand's gold mines. Eduard Bok, State Secretary of the South African Republic, provided its name and 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 15ha dam is now the attractive Boksburg lake.
Boxburg is the site of the assassination of South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani in 1993. The assassination lead to tension in the country and a number of riots broke out. Democratic elections were held just over a year after Chris Hani’s death.
The town is also the birthplace of Gerrie "the Boksburg Bomber" Coetzee, former WBA heavyweight boxing champion of the world and James Phillips wrote a song called "Boksburg Bomber".
One of the town's major attractions is the East Rand Mall which is one of the largest malls in Gauteng, boasting over 180 shops and attached to South Africa’s largest Pick ‘n Pay Hypermarket.Visitors can enjoy a great shopping experience as well as many restaurants, coffee shops and the mall's nine cinema movie theatre.
Other things to do in Boksburg:
Bruma Lake Flea Market
Sandboarding at Mount Mayhem
Bunny Park Crafters Market
Make your own Teddy Bear
Cinderella Dam - Sun, shade and water at this ideal picnicking spot
Hecter-Schultz Afro-culture Museum
Accommodation can be found throughout the town to accommodate even the most discerning traveller. Visitors will find a range of guest houses, bed and breakfasts, self catering units and hotels. See our accommodation directory for a comprehensive list of accommodation in Boksburg.
