Vandalism at the Blairgowrie Swimming Pool toilets has heightened residents’ concerns about security at the Blairgowrie Recreation Centre.

Ward 102 councillor Bea Campbell-Cloete discovered a troubling reality during an oversight visit at the centre on April 2. There was no security guard on duty at the time, and this absence raised serious questions about accountability, and whether the existing security arrangements are being properly enforced.

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The facility is equipped with 24-hour security, however, community members report that guards are frequently absent. Campbell- Cloete said she received numerous complaints from community members that, at times, when they come to the centre, there’s no security. “We had incident, about three months ago, where the creche was broken into, with no security on site. Taps were also stolen from the bathrooms in the pool area. I came to the centre, after getting complaints from a resident, but when I arrived, all the doors were open and no security was on site.”

She added that they are paying for security guards who are not on site, and the supervisors appear to be unaware of this. She worries that this neglect not only leads to costly repairs but also discourages families from using the space altogether.

Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla explained that the security officers were deployed for both day and night shifts on April 2, according to an approved monthly roster shared with all facilities. He said the entity will verify the specific shift allocation for that date and confirm attendance records. Any deviations from duty will be verified, and, if necessary, corrective actions will be taken in line with relevant procedures. “The deployed security officers are responsible for access control, safeguarding municipal assets, monitoring movements within and around the facility, reporting incidents, and ensuring overall site security, in accordance with their post orders and operational instructions. It should be noted that JMPD security officers are not responsible for the creche, which should have its own security services.”

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Their supervisors conduct daily site visits for both day and night shifts to monitor attendance and ensure deployment compliance. Recreation centre staff also oversee operations as part of their facility management duties, and are expected to report any incidents or deviations immediately. JMPD maintains open communication with all supported facilities to enable real-time reporting and accountability.

For the absence of security personnel, Fihla said each incident is assessed based on its merits, including verification of attendance registers and shift allocations. “While community concerns are taken seriously, it is important to distinguish isolated incidents from verified patterns of non-performance. Where negligence is confirmed, appropriate corrective and disciplinary measures are enacted, according to labour and operational policies.”

To prevent further incidents of vandalism, he said JMPD will continues to enhance supervisory oversight, improve monitoring of deployed officers, and strengthen reporting protocols with site management. “This is the first vandalism incident reported at the swimming pool. Appropriate corrective measures are being implemented to prevent recurrence. The inspection revealed that the damage does not appear consistent with typical criminal activity, such as theft. Notably, key items, like copper piping and external taps, were not removed, suggesting that the incident may not be motivated by financial gain, but rather by possible malicious intent.”

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