Duduza – The R15-million stateof-the-art Duduza swimming pool is yet to be handed over to the community. Exhausted funds and protests by unemployed residents demanding employment resulted in the handover being delayed. In February, councillor for Ward 87 Bongani Hlophe promised the facility would be handed over to the community in two weeks, but this was not the case.

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Hlophe explained the construction of the project was halted during Level 5 lockdown and work only resumed in May. “I have been monitoring the project closely and have been informed by the constructor that they are currently doing the final touches and will then hand it over to the municipality. “We are hoping it will be able to open to the community soon,” he said.

Hlophe explained the project was supposed to be completed in September last year, but work was interrupted by disgruntled residents, bad weather and funds running out. “Initially, the metro budgeted R11-m for the project, but because of the change in main constructors and the hiring of new constructors, as well as other delays, more funds had to be pumped into the project. “We are facing a challenge of residents or self-appointed community leaders who use desperate and unemployed residents to stop service delivery projects.”

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The state-of-the-art swimming facility boasts two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children. It is fitted with changing rooms, showers with hot and cold water, grandstands and bathrooms.

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