CoE works to open pools
The metro is battling to keep the pools operational due budgetary problems and ageing equipment that has reached the end of its lifespan.
The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) disappointed many residents with its failure to reopen some swimming pools on September 1. However, the good news is that authorities have finally overcome one of the major stumbling blocks to reopening some pools.
The city boasts 37 swimming pools, and the CoE had in August promised that out of this total, it would reopen 18 community pools on September 1.
However, some pools remained closed for various reasons, including delayed appointments of lifeguards, general maintenance, poor water quality and damaged equipment.
In Boksburg in particular, the metro promised to reopen Atlasville, Reiger Park and the Boksburg North indoor pool on time, but only Reiger Park opened.
According to metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, they have almost finished appointing lifeguards at public pools. If all goes according to plan, the team will start work by the beginning of November.
“The interviews were done on October 5, and the recommendations for appointments of successful candidates were submitted for approval to corporate HR.
“Upon finalisation of the appointments, the candidates will be ready to resume work,” explained Dlamini.
Atlasville resident Tony de Villiers is among those who lambasted the city for its failure to reopen the Atlasville pool for children to enjoy in the school holidays.
“I do not understand why the municipality failed to make arrangements to sort the pool out before September. As ratepayers, we pay for these facilities in our communities. This is an indication that someone was sleeping on the job.
“What is the mayor doing about this? And what are all these people responsible for the pools getting paid for if they can’t do their jobs properly?
“It will be nice to have the pool reopened soon, but the metro has disappointed the children who are always excited to go to the pool during the September school holiday, which is now over,” said De Villiers.
The CoE told the Boksburg Advertiser it too was disappointed by what it described as “unfortunate delays” in reopening its swimming pools to the communities of Ekurhuleni.
Dlamini said the department was working tirelessly to put remedial actions in place to get the pools in operation before the end of the season.
Reopening the public pools in September seems to have been a belly flop, and the city cannot seem to get it right, year after year.
Dlamini blamed this on budgetary problems and ageing equipment that has reached the end of its lifespan, making it hard to keep the pools operational.
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