Spring has sprung and the scorching summer days are upon us, hence the metro is ready to help beat the heat with the opening of all new and revamped community pools for the swimming season.
In preparation of the splish-splash season, the metro conducted extensive maintenance and repair works to all its pools during the winter season while constructing new pools in other areas of the metro.
“The swimming season preparation work also included an advanced training course for lifeguards, trained by Lifesaving South Africa, who will serve communities as qualified lifesavers,” said the metro’s spokesman, Themba Gadebe.
“The certification they obtained is valid for a year and must be renewed annually through theoretical and practical examinations.
“In an effort to curb the rising number of drowning cases in community pools and ensure the residents’ safety, the metro is offering patrons of all ages from three years old, the Learn-to-Swim programme conducted by qualified swimming instructors.”
The programme aims to assist people with no swimming skills or even develop intermediate swimmers into advanced swimmers.
Ekurhuleni has over 30 community swimming pools, with two lifeguards allocated to each swimming pool who are responsible for all lifesaving duties, facility management, water treatment and testing, asset control, housekeeping, and crowd control.
“Pool maintenance and repair work is still continuing at facilities located in Boksburg, Katlehong, Daveyton, Etwatwa, as well as Olympia Park and Selection Park in Springs,” added Gadebe.
“These swimming pools will, therefore, not open over this swimming season.”
Operating hours at the Delville swimming pool are as follows:
Mondays: Closed.
Tuesdays to Thursdays: 5am to 8pm.
Fridays: 5am to 5.30pm.
Saturdays: 10am to 6pm.
Sundays and public holidays: 2pm to 6pm.
The Katlehong, Klopper Park, Primrose, Gerdview, Dinwiddie, Leondale and Palm Ridge swimming pools’ operating hours are:
Mondays: Closed.
Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10am to 6pm.
Sundays and public holidays: 2pm to 6pm.
“The entrance fee to all community pools with a turn-style gate is R5 per person,” said Gadebe.
“School children will not be allowed entry to public swimming pools during school hours, unless prior arrangements have been made by their school.
“This is, however, subject to approval by the metro’s sports and recreation department.”
