Swimming pool blues

The Linden swimming pool is one of the only heated swimming pools in the area.

Residents from other suburbs travel from far to enjoy the facilities at the pool. However since April the pool has been closed due to maintenance problems. In the article, Linden pool reopens, week ending 12 July, Ward 99 councillor Bruce Herbert said the swimming pool would reopen on 15 July. He also explained the pool was closed as a leakage was found.

The pool has not been reopened and residents are frustrated by the delays. Thalia Potgieter who used to live in Linden said her daughter was diagnosed with muscular sclerosis. “The doctor recommended her to use a heated swimming pool for therapy to improve her health. This pool has been neglected for a while, what is she going to do now? It doesn’t seem like the pool will open anytime soon,” said Potgieter.

The City of Johannesburg has allegedly invested approximately R3 million on renovating the pool. On 4 July the department of sport and recreation started pumping water into swimming pool. Herbert said the pool was awaiting a special

part which was ordered from overseas.

He said the part had been installed but during the installation five leaks were discovered on the filtration system and were fixed on 24 July. “Retesting of the filtration system were scheduled for 29 July and I understood if there are no more problems, chemicals will be added to the water and it will be heated. I estimate the pool will be open on approximately 15 August.”

He added the new solar panel which will heat the water for showering have been installed and everything else is working properly.

Unofficial comment from the department of sport and recreation led the Northcliff Melville Times to believe maintenance work is indeed being done on the pool and it will reopen soon.

A swimming coach, who wishes to remain anonymous as he utilises the pool to give lessons said, “The city council has been running the swimming pool for more than a decade, they know what to expect in maintaining the pool and they should have had a backup plan in case anything goes wrong.