With summer approaching, residents of Coronationville say they are frustrated by the limited public access to the local swimming pool, questioning why a facility meant to serve the community has remained largely unavailable while a film production company continues to use it.

Residents and community activists raised concerns about the condition and management of the Coronationville swimming pool and recreation centre, citing broken windows, leaking pipes, damaged facilities and poor maintenance of the surrounding grounds. Resident Debra Berbyshire said children and other community members had been unable to enjoy the pool during the hot weather. “My frustration is this: the kids, the public on these hot, hot days cannot utilise the pool,” she said.

Berbyshire said the facility was an important recreational space, particularly for children who needed somewhere safe to spend their weekends and afternoons after school. She questioned the communication around the pool’s reopening, saying residents were repeatedly told it would be available the following day, only for access to remain uncertain. “We keep hearing it’s broken, but the filming company comes here to film,” she said. She added that the grounds around the pool were not being properly maintained, with shattered glass visible in the area.

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Berbyshire said the wider recreation facility was also not being made available to the community as it should be. “If the community was involved, we wouldn’t have issues like broken windows and leaking and whatever. The grounds would be clean,” she said.

Lionel Berbyshire said it was particularly frustrating that ratepayers were not benefiting from a facility they helped fund through their rates. He questioned why the pool could be used for film productions while children from the community were unable to access it.

Rise Mzansi Ward 69 councillor candidate Faadiel Ayob wanted to know why revenue generated from the Coronationville recreation facilities was not being reinvested in the local facility, and what policy guided the allocation of that income. He also questioned whether the community had been consulted before the filming arrangement was put in place and what opportunities the agreement created for local residents. Ayob said residents had raised concerns about broken windows, leaking pipes, missing taps and damaged facilities in the changing rooms. He added that emails had been sent to various city officials, including the city manager and executive mayor, but residents were still waiting for meaningful responses.

In response to questions, City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane confirmed that repairs to the pool’s heating system had been completed and that the facility was operational, confirming that the pool reopened on October 27. Modingoane said the agreement with Penguin Film runs from July 1 to June 30, 2027.

The city said the revenue generated from the arrangement was in excess of R200 000, depending on the number of filming days, which do not exceed four days a month. The filming days may be divided into two or more sessions.

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Modingoane added that the income was paid directly into the city’s account. When asked whether the agreement included maintenance and repair responsibilities, he said Penguin Film was responsible for preparing the facility before and after shoots and undertook minor maintenance. The production company also cuts the grass, although the city described these additional arrangements as part of the relationship rather than contractual obligations. Modingoane said the public was notified whenever the pool was closed for filming.

Regarding other maintenance concerns, including broken windows and leaks, Modingoane confirmed that a contractor had been appointed to attend to the issues.

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