IN preparation of the splish-splash season, the metro has conducted extensive maintenance and repair works on all its pools during the winter season while constructing new pools in other areas.
The swimming season preparation work also included an advanced training course for lifeguards who will serve communities 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 examinations.
In an effort to curb the rising number of drowning cases in community pools and ensure residents’ safety, the municipality is offering patrons of all ages from three years, the learn-to-swim programme conducted by qualified swimming instructors.
The programme aims to assist a person with no swimming skills or even develop intermediate swimmers into advanced swimmers.
Ekurhuleni has over 30 community swimming pools, with two lifeguards allocated to each swimming pool. They are responsible for all lifesaving duties, facility management, water treatment and testing, asset control, housekeeping and crowd control.
The hours for both Kempton Park and Birchleigh municipal pools are:
Mondays: Closed
Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10am to 6pm
Sundays and public holidays: 2pm to 6pm.
The entrance fee to all community pools with a turn-style gate is R5 a 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, however, subject to approval by the metro’s sports and recreation department.
