City of Johannesburg delays opening of municipal pools in Region C
Residents in Region C face further delays as the City of Johannesburg misses its revised deadline to reopen local swimming pools.
Residents will have to wait even longer to make a splash at municipal swimming pools across Region C, as the City of Johannesburg has yet to announce new opening dates despite missing its revised October 1 target.
City spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said the delay is due to a combination of critical infrastructure work, routine pre-season maintenance, a shortage of essential pool chemicals and delays in finalising the recruitment of seasonal lifeguards and pool attendants.
Uncertainty surrounds municipal pool reopenings
The City had initially planned to open its municipal swimming pools on September 1 but postponed the start of the season to October 1, saying the additional time was needed to ensure facilities met the required health, safety and operational standards.
However, an October 1 inspection by the Roodepoort Record found several Region C pools still not ready to welcome residents. At Davidsonville Swimming Pool, the facility was empty and maintenance work, including grass cutting, had yet to be completed.
Roodepoort Swimming Pool was also not open, while Ward 70 Clr Caleb Finn confirmed that Florida Lake and Florida North swimming pools were likewise not ready for residents.
Chemical shortages and staff recruitment prolong closure
“Critical infrastructural upgrades and routine pre-season maintenance at several facilities are taking longer than anticipated to complete,” Modingoane said.
He also pointed to unforeseen procurement delays, which have resulted in a temporary shortage of essential chemicals required to ensure pools meet health and safety standards.
The shortage means that even facilities where physical maintenance may have progressed cannot simply open their gates without the necessary chemicals to maintain safe water quality.
The City is also working to finalise the recruitment and appointment of seasonal lifeguards and pool attendants.
“The administrative processes surrounding the recruitment and finalisation of seasonal lifeguards and pool attendants are taking longer than expected,” he said.
No revised opening dates have yet been communicated. Modingoane said the City would instead adopt a phased approach, with 15 pools across Johannesburg expected to reopen as the outstanding challenges at individual facilities are resolved.
