City officials visit dilapidated pool.
Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs confirmed that officials from the City of Johannesburg had visited and inspected the Windsor West Swimming Pool along Duke Avenue. In a statement the councillor said the meeting took place on September 22 and she had met with officials from the Department of Sports and Recreation on September 17.
Jacobs stated, “I would like to extend a word of thanks and gratitude to the Sports and Recreational Department for their intervention. Contractors are on-site with scope of work of enclosing/securing the facility, cleaning the facility and other minor works.”
City contractors were on-site as Jacobs and City officials arrived on September 22 and they assessed and engaged on potential ways forward. She added, “While the City welcomes private/public participation, private institutions need to respect City processes and engage with entities.”
This is due to the interest private entities have shown and shared to get on board to secure and protect the pool facility.
Spokesperson of Linden Police Station Constable Takalani Sibiya previously stated that they did not have any cases in connection with the Windsor West Swimming Pool. “We can only act once a case has been opened either by the City or a representative of the City. We will continue with or patrols at and around the pool but until a case is opened we can’t do much.”
A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, rejected the police’s position that nothing had been reported in connection with the pool. He said, “Linden police were aware of the problem. I and other members of the Windsor community groups have phoned the Sector 4 manager many times to report fires, noise, fighting and the infrastructure being destroyed at the pool. Yes, the cops came and drove past but that was it. I live in a block right next door and saw exactly what transpired.”
Sibiya added that the responsibility of ensuring the security of the pool, like all public pools lies with the City of Johannesburg.
The City and its department are still to respond to questions on the safety and security issues facing the pool.
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