Balkumar Singh Pool remains closed indefinitely

BALKUMAR Singh Swimming Pool, also known as Asherville Pool, is one of Durban’s recreational pools that was severely damaged in April. This was after severe flooding and landslides caused by heavy rainfall from April 11 to April 13 claimed hundreds of lives and damaged infrastructure throughout the KwaZulu-Natal province. According to the eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, the swimming pool was damaged during the first rainstorm on April 12.

The spokesperson says this resulted in:

• Pool water and surrounds being flooded with mudslides;
• Parts of the concrete fencing around the pool falling;
• The pool’s plantroom being flooded with water, thus damaging the pool’s filtration system;
• Piping around the pool being exposed.

The spokesperson said that the facility has been closed since and will remain closed indefinitely as the municipality awaits the finalisation of the insurance claim.

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Ward 31 councillor Remona Mckenzie says that immediately after the floods she, the ward committee and the Asherville Ratepayers’ Association (ARA) compiled a report with pictures of the areas that were damaged by the floods.

“A database of residents affected was collated and sent to disaster management. To date, residents have not received assistance. It’s devastating to see the Balkumar Singh Swimming Pool in such a horrific state. This swimming pool had just opened before the floods, and residents were very excited. In a recent oversight, I noted that the first-aid room was also vandalised. There is a security guard in place now who looks after the area,” said Mckenzie.

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In her oversights, Councillor Mckenzie noted the following repairs that need to be made to restore Bulkumar Singh Pool:

“The pool floor and wall require retiling, the leaking well valve needs to be replaced, the paddling pool needs repainting, the building (interior and exterior) needs repainting, and there needs to be an upgrade done on the filtration system.”