THE festive season has officially kicked off, but the appalling state of Amanzimtoti Main Beach’s swimming pool has left residents fuming, questioning what image of their town it will portray to visitors.

They are also questioning why eThekwini Municipality has seemingly turned a blind eye and how many more years the decay will continue.

Also read: eThekwini remains inattentive to public swimming pool repairs [LETTER]

Once a jewel of the Amanzimtoti beachfront, the pool has lain in ruins, filled with stagnant, foul-smelling water, sand, bottles, and general litter. It has been closed for the past two years. The paint is peeling, the rails are rusted or missing, homeless people once occupied the guard house before the security door was locked, and several manhole covers have been stolen. The gate is gone too, allowing anyone to wander in freely. The risk of someone falling into the filthy water is constant, and the absence of lifeguards only heightens the danger.

On November 2, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba announced that the City expects 1.3 million visitors over the festive season, projected to spend about R341m.

“We will be showcasing eThekwini’s hidden gems and pulling out all the stops to ensure an unforgettable summer, positioning the City as a premier holiday destination,” said Xaba.

Residents argue that the derelict pool paints a very different picture. They say if the site remains neglected, it will continue to tarnish the town’s image and drive tourists away. One concerned resident, Hazel Lodetti, said she could not understand why the municipality had allowed the pool to fall into ruin.

“The municipality needs to account to its citizens and the scores of holidaymakers who arrive on our coast, expecting to enjoy all of our amenities,” said Lodetti.

Councillor André Beetge said besides the structural damage and vandalism the pool has suffered, its underground pumps, which were imported, have rusted. These pumps, said Beetge, have become obsolete, and it would be very costly to replace them.

“The Winklespruit and Dakota Beach swimming pools are also suffering from the same problem. Different options are being weighed on whether to renovate or turn them into tidal pools,” said Beetge.

eThekwini conducted a site visit on October 31, and a report on the way forward will be forwarded to Beetge.

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