We will fix Zoo Lake ourselves’- Residents spend R6m

On a Thursday morning, we visited Zoo Lake and watched a group of residents work together, planting flowers and clearing litter along the lake’s embankments.

For years, the 120-year-old park had suffered from neglect. Eroded banks, overgrown gardens, and safety concerns had left one of Johannesburg’s most iconic public spaces underused.

“I’ve been coming here for years and bringing my grandchildren to feed the ducks,” says one regular visitor.

The Zoo Lake Users Committee has taken the lead in restoring the park.

“Every Thursday women come, garden, clean up the area,” says Alex Vaweiss of the committee. “We have also planted flora around the embankments to help with erosion.”

Volunteers invest their own time—and even money—into maintaining the park, gradually bringing life and safety back to the space.

“The gardens are looking beautiful,” says one resident. “I come and sit here to think and enjoy the silence, feed the ducks and I feel safe,” adds Dudu.

While City Parks is officially responsible for maintenance, residents say repeated delays and underfunding forced them to step in. Their effort demonstrates the impact of community action in preserving Johannesburg’s public spaces.