Public swimming pool in disrepair

Emjindini children cool down by splashing each other with water, however, this is not by choice.

The closest source of refreshment, which is the Cathyville Swimming Pool, has not been operational over the last decade.

Last weekend Barberton Times spotted several kids pouring buckets of water over each other in an attempt to cool down. According to South African weather services, temperatures soared to 34°C on Saturday and Sunday.

Married Mathebula (14), a grade eight pupil of Sikhutsele Primary School, who resides at Extension 11 in Emjindini, said she and her neighbours decided to invent a water-bucket game to escape the scorching heat.

“Since there is no public swimming pool nearby and we are scared of swimming in the streams, we decided to invent the water-bucket game. We chase each other with a bucket full of water and then splash one another,” Married said.

Asked if they were aware that this would increase their parents’ water tariffs, she said they knew about it but were left with no choice. “In this scorching temperatures there are no other outdoor games we can play. This game is the only way we can cool down.”

Mathebula said they were afraid to go to the nearby streams as they were not sure wether it was infested with crocodiles. She said previous incidents of drowning also scared them.

Umjindi Municipality spokesman, Sam Jele couldn’t comment at the time of going to print.

However, during the council-budget consultation with the community for 2014/15, it was highlighted that an amount of R800 000 was proposed to be budgeted to refurbish the Cathyville Swimming Pool. The new financial year started on July 1, but to date there had been no new development regarding the pool.