Sunshine, sunscreen and sharing is a failsafe recipe to enjoy a summer of freedom.
To celebrate the reopening of public pools around Johannesburg, the sports and recreation office of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) held an afternoon of educational fun at the Roodepoort Swimming Pool on Friday, October 1. Guests were greeted by the freshly trimmed lawns that surround the crystal clear water of the pool that will serve as a spot of recreational enjoyment for the next seven months.
Assistant Director for Regions C’s sport and recreation office, Joyce Jiyane, was on hand to declare the pool officially open. “Thank you to everyone who helped put this event together. It is great to be able to have our pools open again, just as summer approaches. We hope everybody takes the opportunity to have fun at these facilities, but also to do so in a responsible manner,” said Joyce.
The reopening of the pools go hand in hand with the CoJ’s ‘Learn to Swim’ campaign which aims to promote water safety at crèches, schools and youth organisations. Roodepoort Sport Academy is one such entity and they helped to bring many of the area’s children to the poolside to be educated on the joys and responsibilities of a day at the pool. After a game of volleyball, the children were treated to a demonstration on pool safety by an energetic team of officials and lifeguards.
Kallie Kruger, who has spent 37 years looking after the swimming pools in both Region C and B, gave an important reminder on poolside etiquette. “Always listen to your lifeguards because they are here to protect you. When you get to the pool, always check where the deep end is and where the shallow end is. Never run around the pool and never bump your friends in as they can get hurt. Swimming is there to be enjoyed but mistakes happen,” stressed Kallie.
The Roodepoort Swimming Pool was build in 1967 and is 10 feet deep, a fraction over three metres. It is one of several swimming venues in Roodepoort which include Florida North Municipal Pool and Little Falls Pleasure Resort. Anna Sebe, Ward 84 committee member for Infrastructure and Service summed up the pool’s potential, stating, “This is our pool, this is our facility. It exists for our community’s benefit and everyone is welcome to enjoy it.”
