Ward councillor leads by example
Ward 117 councillor, Tim Truluck has given the proposed pool bylaws a thumbs up.
So much so that he has taken the initiative to lead by example by making plans to “baby-proof” his pool.
This followed the news of stringent safety bylaws to be approved by the City of Johannesburg concerning residential swimming pools.
Truluck advised homeowners to follow suit.
“I know people have moaned about the possibility of these bylaws being implemented but my thoughts are that it only takes one accident for someone to drown,” he said.
“I don’t have kids but some of my friends do and so does my domestic worker. What if their children slip and fall? My dog could drown.”
The new regulations, which serve to implement safety measures for private swimming pools, could have serious legal implications for homeowners, including a jail term.
The bylaws require all owners of private swimming pools to register their pools with the city council and obtain a certificate of compliance.
Once the bylaw is passed, properties with pools will not be able to be sold without this certificate. According to the regulations, a pool must be surrounded by a wall or fence – erected according to National Building Regulations – which a child would not be able to climb over, crawl under or squeeze through.
Residents’ associations, such as The Craighall Residents Association, have objected to the proposed pool bylaws.
However, Truluck feels that instead of objecting, residents’ associations could instead help homeowners by contacting pool companies and negotiating discounted prices and deals for their suburbs.
“Should you one day decide you want to sell your house then you will need to have this fence around your pool and be in compliance anyway,” he said.
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