The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) 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 EMM conducted maintenance and repair work at all its pools during the winter season, while constructing new pools in other areas of the metro.
Mr Themba Gadebe, the EMM’s spokesperson, said the preparation work also included an advanced training course for lifeguards who will serve as qualified lifesavers, trained by Lifesaving South Africa.
“The certification they obtained is valid for a year and must be renewed annually through theoretical and practical examination.
In an effort to curb the rising number of drowning cases in community pools and to ensure the residents’ safety, the municipality is offering patrons of all ages, from three years old, the Learn-to-Swim programme conducted by qualified swimming instructors,” said Mr Gadebe.
He said the programme aims to assist a person with no swimming skills, or to 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.
The entrance fee to all community pools with a turn-style gate is R5 per person.
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 subject to approval by the EMM Sports and Recreation Department.
