CoE withdraws its plan to close pools on weekends

The City of Ekurhuleni has retracted its decision to close all public swimming pools on weekends and public holidays.

When the decision was recently sent out to the media, our sister publication, Boksburg Advertiser, pressed the CoE communications office for more information about what prompted the decision.

In response to this request, metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said management had reconsidered the plan and decided to withdraw it.

No further explanation was offered for their sudden U-turn.

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However, a source within the metro said the decision was prompted by cost-cutting as the relevant department did not pay staff overtime.

The Eastern Gauteng Aquatics president, Cheryl Knight, said that while the decision would not have hurt EGA’s big swimming galas, the metro was inconsiderate to those who are dependent on the public pools for swimming on weekends.

“We can use the pools for our galas even when they are closed for the general public, but what about the community members who flock to the pools on weekends to cool off?

“Some people from the swimming fraternity want to use the pools on weekends to prepare for swimming competitions.”

Knight pointed out that public pools are an important facility for communities, especially during the summer months. “Maintenance issues, however, have left some of them closed to the public.”

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The Advertiser asked Knight whether a logical plan would be to close on certain days during the week as this would not impact as many people as it does on weekends.

She said it would still not make sense because many pools are already closed on Sunday and Monday to allow for cleaning.

The majority of community pools operate from Tuesday to Saturday (10:00 to 18:00) and from 14:00 to 18:00 on Sundays and public holidays, according to the metro.