The City of Ekurhuleni says the Klopperpark swimming pool remains closed to residents while it works through the procurement of chlorine gas and the appointment of seasonal lifeguards.

The response follows an article published by GCN on September 11 regarding the condition of the facility, including reports of non-functioning pumps, stagnant water, and the deteriorating state of the pool infrastructure.

According to the city, the pool is currently not operational because the procurement of chlorine gas is still underway and seasonal lifeguards still need to be appointed.

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CoE also confirmed that the pool’s pump is not functioning, despite a new pump having been installed in February 2025 by appointed contractors.

“The pump is not functioning due to a faulty electrical contactor switch which starts and stops the pump. A contractor will soon be appointed to address the problem,” said City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

The condition of the facility’s drainage and standing water was also raised. The city said a blocked drainpipe was opened and cleaned by the Water Department more than a week ago.

However, the water in the swimming pools has not yet been drained.

“The water will only be drained once chlorine gas is available because the water currently helps protect the pool shell,” said Dlamini.

The city said staff at the facility are also assisting with cleaning the surrounding grounds and buildings.

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CoE acknowledged that Klopperpark swimming pool is an ageing facility, approximately 50 years old.

Despite its age, the city said its infrastructure remains in good condition and that ongoing repairs are being undertaken through the Real Estate Department and other procurement processes to keep the facility functional.

The Department of Community Services is, however, dependent on other departments to assist with maintenance.

“The staff were doing everything possible with the resources available to keep the swimming pools operational, despite Klopperpark having reached the end of its lifespan,” explained Dlamini.

The response comes as the city is currently undertaking rehabilitation work at three other swimming pools – Kempton Park, Tembisa and Olifantsfontein.

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The city also revealed that R1m has been made available for all 36 swimming pools across Ekurhuleni for the 2026/27 financial year.

“The city will use service request orders and stores quotation procurement methods where possible because there are currently no tenders in place,” explained Dlamini.

He said this means the available funding must be spread across the municipality’s swimming-pool network rather than being dedicated to Klopperpark alone.

When asked whether the city had a confirmed timeline for restoring Klopperpark swimming pool to full operation, the municipality said there was no confirmed timeline at this stage.

The city explained that other rehabilitation projects had already been committed to.

Residents therefore remain without a confirmed date for when they will once again be able to use the Klopperpark facility.

The city said it would continue rehabilitating other swimming pools as its financial position allows, with Klopperpark’s future rehabilitation dependent on available resources.

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While the municipality maintains that the facility can be kept functional through ongoing repairs, the absence of a confirmed reopening timeline leaves questions about how long residents will have to wait for access to a clean, safe and fully operational swimming facility.

The city has also indicated that broader rehabilitation of its swimming-pool infrastructure will continue according to available financial resources and existing project commitments.