Pretoria North and Sinoville residents celebrate pool reopening milestone

After being closed for more than a year, two popular community swimming facilities in the north of Tshwane have finally reopened.

The Pretoria North and Sinoville swimming pools welcomed their first swimmers back, marking a long-awaited return to recreational activity for residents.

The closures, which lasted for more than 12 months, left many residents frustrated, particularly families and schoolchildren who rely on the pools for both leisure and training.

With temperatures steadily rising and summer around the corner, the reopening is a welcome relief for the community.

At the Pretoria North Swimming Pool, a monitoring visit by Ward Councillor Quentin Meyer revealed that operations were slowly coming back to life.

The pool was adequately staffed, with three temporary lifeguards and one permanent lifeguard on duty to ensure safety.

“It’s encouraging to see the pool back in operation. We will continue to monitor attendance, staffing levels, and service delivery as the weeks progress. The focus now is on ensuring that residents have a safe, clean, and accessible facility,” said Meyer.

The reopening of these public pools means much more than simply providing a place to cool off. They also serve as important training grounds for young swimmers and athletes.

Local swimming clubs, which were forced to suspend or relocate their activities during the closures, are expected to return once operations stabilise.

Parents in the area also view the pools as a safe space for children during weekends and holidays, where recreational activities can keep them off the streets.

“Public pools are not just about swimming, they’re about creating healthy, active lifestyles and giving children positive spaces to spend their time,” said resident Cindy Makhafula.

While the reopening has been welcomed, some concerns remain.

Maintenance issues during the long closure period have raised questions about the sustainability of operations.

Makhafula pointed out the need for regular upkeep of the water quality, functioning facilities such as change rooms and showers, and consistent staffing to avoid safety risks.

“We are happy the pools are open again, but we don’t want this to be temporary. We have seen services start and stop too many times in Tshwane,” said Makhafula.

Ward 50 councillor Lenise Breytenbach said the reopening represents a small but meaningful step in restoring public confidence in local service delivery.

She said residents had to clean and cut grass at the Deon Malherbe swimming pool on Braam Pretorius Street.

“Over the past year, frustrations have mounted in several communities over municipal facilities being locked or falling into disrepair.

“This is about more than water and tiles; it’s about dignity, community, and giving residents what they deserve. We are committed to monitoring the situation closely and holding the city accountable for proper maintenance,” said Breytenbach.

Sionoville resident Zwelethu Mpinga said with warmer weather approaching, the hope is that the pools will once again become vibrant hubs of activity, hosting families, school groups, and swimmers of all ages.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.