Public pools reopen in some areas as metro urges responsible use and protection
Several community pools were reopened this week, with the metro urging residents to use them responsibly, conserve water, and respect lifeguard instructions for everyone’s safety.
Pretoria Central residents can once again enjoy the warm spring weather with a dip at the recently reopened Sunnyside Community Pool.
Tshwane Mayor, Nasiphi Moya, and the Metro’s Acting MMC for Environment and Agriculture Management, Tshegofatso Mashabela, visited the pool on September 4, ahead of the reopening the next day.
They said that, despite being happy to welcome back the community to the pool, water consumption will be strictly monitored.
“Because of Level 1 water restrictions, we were not supposed to open swimming pools this year, but we negotiated with Rand Water to open them with very strict conditions.
“These include that we must use a meter so we can monitor our water consumption in the pools and every month we must report back to Rand Water.
“So, this has been a long process of negotiations with Rand Water, because we understand that our people want to use our swimming pools, especially kids from disadvantaged families,” Moya said.
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The Tshwane metro opened the Sunnyside, Mamelodi East and West Community Pools on September 4, and the Danville, Atteridgeville and Saulsville pools on September 5.
Officials are pleading with residents to use the resource responsibly and listen to the instructions of lifeguards.
Mashabela said the inspection formed part of the metro’s commitment to ensuring that public facilities are safe, well-maintained, and compliant with municipal by-laws, before being reopened to residents.
She also called on all residents to take pride in and safeguard this important public asset, saying that municipal infrastructure belongs to the people.
“It is our collective responsibility to protect and preserve it for current and future generations.
“We want to tell the residents of Sunnyside, in particular, of Ward 81, that this is your facility. Take care of it and make sure it remains in good condition,” she said.
“Do not allow anyone to come into your facility and mess it up. We must understand that we are working with strict and budget-constrained measures to make sure that the pool is effective for the community. Now nothing must be left to outsiders to come and destroy the work done here,” Mashabela said.
All community pools are cashless, and complaints and queries can be directed to the Tshwane Metro Helpdesk on 012 358 9999.
Watch here: https://x.com/i/status/1963561912580403518.
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