Benonians hoping to take a dip in a public pool anytime soon will be disappointed to know the Ekurhuleni metro is closing all its public pools from 6pm tomorrow (December 21) until January 2.
According to the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for Community Services, councillor Dora Mlambo, this is due to a limited number of officials, including lifeguards, available during this time, as most have taken leave.
“This may pose a challenge in adhering to basic health and safety requirements at the facilities,” she said.
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The Democratic Alliance (DA) attempted to rescind this resolution recently but was unsuccessful due to the council being in recess.
DA Shadow MMC for Community Services in Ekurhuleni councillor Malcolm Maifala said it came to light when the MMC was recently interviewed on eNCA that the real reason is not a lack of lifeguards but that of safety concerns at the swimming pools.
“The closure of pools during the festive season stifles social cohesion and negatively affects the income generated by the department that they would have received from entrance fees.
“We believe the entire swimming pool saga runs deeper than the current state of closed swimming pools in the metro.
“It is mind-boggling to imagine that in a metro that aspires to be taken as seriously as its neighbours, the DA-led coalition governments in Tshwane and Johannesburg, that its Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation fails to put plans in place to be able to keep swimming pools open throughout December,” said Maifala.
“A major failure of the department is that the swimming pools are closed from the end of April to the beginning of September – surely, it is during this time that lifeguards can afford to take a holiday.
“The MMC for Community Services has also failed to provide clear leadership in this regard, leaving communities frustrated by not having access to swimming pools.
“This decision by the metro is concerning to the DA, and we will raise our opposition to this in council at the end of January,” he said.
Maifala added that the DA has been engaging with a number of professionals in an attempt to find a solution for the future as part of their opposition to the metro’s decision to shut swimming pools.
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