Nkabinde Primary School gets its first learn-to-swim container pool
The school has become the first school to receive a learn-to-swim container pool in South Africa.
KwaThema – Nkabinde Primary School is officially the first school in South Africa to receive a ‘Learn To Swim’ container pool.
It took a little over 18 months for the project, the brainchild of Allison Smith of the Eastern Gauteng Aquatics, to be completed.
“One day I just had this idea and I could not let go of it.
“I knew we needed funding and that is when I approached Implats,” explains Smith.
She says from day one, she was committed to seeing the project to completion.
“We had seen this being done with containers before.
The trick was to adapt it to be child-friendly.”
The eight-metre long pool stands above ground and will have a railing installed for safety.
Principal Humphrey Chilloane says the school is extremely excited about the new pool.
“Our school draws learners from the poorest of the poor.
“We have children from Umbilo Farm Estate where the farm school was closed in 2010.”
He adds they also cater for learners from Marikana and Daggafontein informal settlement.
“We are going to look after this pool and stick to the swimming regulations.”
He jokes that he also wants to learn how to swim, but only after school and “there should be lifesavers.”
He thanked Eastern Gauteng Aquatics, the metro and Impala Platinum Limited (Implats) for making it possible.
Clr Dora Mlambo admits that although the city of Ekurhuleni has a total of 36 public pools, there are issues of accessibility.
“The pools are there, but it is sometimes very difficult for people to get to them, due to proximity.”
Paul Finney, the group executive for marketing for Refineries and Impala Refinery Services, says although the platinum industry has very little to celebrate at the moment, they are happy to be part of the project.
“I think it is important that we grab occasions like today, and ensure we properly celebrate and recognise just what is being achieved here.”
Finney congratulated the Grade Four and Grade Five learners who helped decorate the pool.
The learners were challenged to make drawings of what they imagine to be in the pool with their friends.
“The concept of ‘bringing the pool to the learners’ shows true innovation.
I believe the project has an exciting future. Hopefully, we are able to roll out the concept to an ever-increasing number of schools.”
