Nellmapius swimming pool in a state of ruin

With temperatures slowly climbing, there is, unfortunately, no chance for local Nellmapius kids taking a refreshing dip at their local municipal swimming pool as it has been left derelict since before the lockdown.

“It was supposed to be a safe place for local children to play but the facility, which cost millions of rands, is a hideout for criminals today,” said ward 86 councillor Thabo Ntlatleng.

“The facility was plagued by vandalism from the onset. We have pleaded with the metro to improve security by installing a new entrance gate, but they weren’t listening.”

The swimming pool in Nellmapius extension 4 has closed its gates back in 2019 because of pool pumps that needed maintenance and also because the security guards had left.

The recreational centre had six operating swimming pools. Today, all the pools are dry and the pumps are no longer working as the building has been vandalised by criminals.

“The swimming pool was operating when I was elected ward councillor in 2016. But even back then it was in a dire condition and urgently needed repairs,” Ntatleng said.

Ntlatleng said he was disappointed with the metro because all of his efforts to fix the facility came to nothing.

“The metro should have taken care of this facility.”

There is a long list of minor problems that need fixing and items that need to be replaced: taps, lights, vandalised showers, toilets, the playfield, the camera system, broken windows and stolen fixtures.

“Facilities like this need security guards to protect them, but instead the metro removed the guards and criminals saw an opportunity to steal.”

He added that unruly community members also took over the swimming pool and chased staff workers away.

Ntlatleng said he has raised this matter “many times” to the metro as well as the metro police.

“Today the door frames, aluminium windows, electricity cables and other fittings have all been stripped.”

A local parent, Johannah Ngwenya, said the swimming pool was a safe place for kids to play but was no longer safe.

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“Our children used to play by the swimming pools in groups during the school holidays, but now they have nowhere to go,” said Ngwenya.

“This was our only swimming pool in the area and the metro should have taken care of it. Now our children have nowhere to go.

“The Moretele Park resort in Mamelodi has 24-hour security guards. They should have done the same for us here in Nellmapius.”

She said metro has let millions in rands go down the drain because no one wants to take responsibility for the facility.

“The community members used to take care of the facility,” said local parent Peter Mabena.

“But now crime at the facility has become normal. Residents no longer chase criminals away because there is nothing left to protect.”

Tshwane metro spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo said the facility has been plagued by vandalism from the start.

“We had minor incidents right from the start that primarily affected the fixtures and fittings of the swimming pool as well as its surroundings.

“Destruction of things at the facility escalated very quickly to such an extent that a clique within the community took over the facility and chased away the staff,” said Mashigo.

“In some instances, these residents even took money out of the till.”

According to Mashigo, the metro met with community leaders to implore them to take a lead in efforts to prevent damage to the facility.

“Failing this, the metro was unable to open the pool.”

Mashigo said it was true that the local ward councillor had raised concerns over the pool being unused and its state many times with the metro.

“What is incorrect is that the metro did no maintenance work. Over the years, much work was done on several latent defects such as the drainage of the grounds, mud ingress into the pool during storms, etc.

“The metro also repaired the pumps, filtration systems and chlorinators several times as well.

“However, this all came to nought as everything was soon undone by acts of criminality.”

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