A Pretoria east resident has earned praise from pool users after stepping in to cut long, neglected grass inside the grounds of the Hillcrest municipal swimming pool.

Local landscaper and parent Fonnie Pienaar said he decided to act after noticing that swimmers and families were struggling to use the facility due to overgrown grass that had reportedly not been cut for at least two to three months.

“We just decided that since we have the ability and we have the facility, we might as well take it on,” said Pienaar.

“If the City of Tshwane doesn’t come to the party, we will help them. We’ll see what we can do.”

Pienaar said he did not formally report the issue to the municipality but instead acted as a concerned community member.

He added that he wanted people who are visiting the facilities to enjoy it more with clean and neatly cut grass.

According to Pienaar, the grass inside the pool complex had been overgrown for at least two to three months, possibly longer.

“With January marking the peak swimming season, I felt there was no time to waste.”

Using his own equipment, Pienaar focused on cutting the grass inside the pool area.

He said the work is not yet finished due to time constraints.

“We didn’t have enough time, but we had to start because the season is now, and everybody wants to swim. Some people train there; others just want to sit on the grass.”

Pienaar believes the grass cutting should be the first step in a broader community-driven effort to restore the facility.

He said other things need to be done, like repainting some walls, the gutters, and some of the facilities.

“It’s run down, and it’s not going to be fixed overnight. But if the community can take hands, we can make a difference,” said Pienaar.

The response Pienaar is getting from fellow residents has been overwhelmingly positive.

Long-time pool user Jeanette Prinsloo shared the appreciation but said the situation highlights a deeper problem.

“It feels great to see someone cutting the grass at the municipal pool. The workers there should be doing this, not the community,” she said.

Prinsloo added that long grass affects more than just aesthetics.

“It’s nice to use the pool and sit on the grass, but the long grass makes it hard to use the stands. The palm trees also need attention to avoid accidents.”

She also raised concerns about the broader state of the Hillcrest swimming pool.

Prinsloo said she has not officially reported the grass issue but has spoken to the ward councillor, who has tried to get it addressed.

She stressed the importance of the Hillcrest pool on a national level.

“This pool is crucial for swimming galas and Olympic qualification in South Africa. It’s the only municipal pool in Pretoria with the proper blocks, lanes and timers for competitions.”

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