Residents hot under collar over state of swimming pools

COMMUNITY members in Florianville, Colville, Roodepan, Homelite and Homevale are hot under the collar over the state of the local municipal swimming pools.

The angry residents pointed the finger at Sol Plaatje Municipality, saying that the local authority has over the years not maintained or upgraded the Roodepan and Brian Hermanus swimming pools.

They accused the municipality of neglecting these swimming pools as they are located in “disadvantaged” communities.

They pointed out that community members are forced to travel to town in order to make use of Karen Muir Swimming Pool.

“It is heartbreaking that we have to travel to town to have access to a swimming pool. Our young children have to take a taxi to and from town just to go and swim. Parents not only have to pay taxi fare in order for their children to go to the swimming pool in town, but then the children are also charged an entry fee at the swimming pool,” they said.

“Parents also have to budget to go to the pool with their children. Most of the people staying in these areas do not have the money to pay taxi fare for all their children.

“There is a solution to this, as there are swimming pools that are just standing empty in these communities. The municipality does not maintain these swimming pools. Why do we have to go and pay for a service we should be getting within walking distance of our homes?”

The community added that the youth in these areas are not only deprived of having access to the facility, but also of the opportunities that are created through these facilities.

“We are not just infuriated and disappointed about the lack of having a swimming pool with water where we can socialise as families, but this is depriving our children from activities that can assist in keeping them away from social ills. Some of our youngsters are gripped by alcohol and drug abuse because they have no extra-mural activities in their communities to keep them entertained,” they said.

The owner and swimming instructor of Floors Swimming Club, Faried Joseph, said he is heartbroken and disgusted at the state of the Floors swimming pool.

“The Floors swimming pool was renamed to Brian Hermanus Swimming Pool, which is an absolute disgrace to the legacy of Brian, who was identified as an Olympic swimmer but was never allowed to compete in the Olympics because of the segregation law at the time.

“Brian and I spent many years at that swimming pool. We were barred from participating in the Olympic Games by the then apartheid regime. However, even that did not discourage us from swimming. We learned how to swim at that same swimming pool.

“Because of our financial background, our parents were not even able to give us the 5 cents entry fee to the swimming pool. We used to wait until 5pm in order to gain entry for free. In those days the community were granted free access to swimming an hour before the swimming pool closed.

“I now train swimming coaches from across the Northern Cape who are appointed at various schools in the Province. I also train youngsters. I have to use my swimming pool at home to train the children because the swimming pools in their areas are not in operation. That is so sad as it makes matters challenging for the children.

“The swimming pools in our communities were not just for entertainment, but many swimming galas were hosted at those pools where school children from different clubs were able to compete against each other. We now have to see many children with great potential in aquatic sports having to let their potential die because of not having access to a swimming pool where they can train.

“The swimming pool in Floors is being vandalised and nothing is being done to address the situation. That swimming pool used to be appreciated by the entire community.”

Joseph added that the importance and benefits of swimming are underestimated.

“When we look at the police statistics, we see that 99% of children reported to have been involved in drowning incidents are black children. We do not want to place emphasis on race, but our children do not know how to swim. There are many children who are staying close to open manholes, rivers and dams. Knowing how to swim can save a child’s life,” he said.

The provincial leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Shariefa Obaray, said that Roodepan community members’ request to upgrade the swimming pool in their area was denied.

“The Roodepan swimming pool is not only for the community of that area, but the community from Homelite, Homevale and other surrounding areas also made use of that swimming pool. Residents in those areas now need to travel to town to access a swimming pool,” Obaray pointed out.

“The community members have written a letter to the municipality, requesting it to fix the swimming pool as they can see how it would benefit and uplift the community. The community members were willing to contribute funds to the renovation. However, it seems like politics got in the way of those plans and the request was declined.”

Obaray said that the proper maintenance of recreational facilities needs to enjoy as much attention and urgency as the delivery of municipal services.

“We continue to preach that a child in sport is a child out of court. However, what happens when there are no facilities where our children can safely participate in different sports? The parks in our communities are not maintained. It is the same situation with our swimming pools. We have to travel to access these facilities.

“These facilities are not a privilege but a right to everyone. We cannot deny people these rights merely because of geographic location or their political affiliation. We need to place the rights and needs of our community members above politics,” she said.

Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said that repeated vandalism at the facilities had forced the local authority to abandon any further maintenance work at the facilities.

“The Galeshewe swimming pool has so far been operational for the entire season following the appointment of lifeguards in October 2022 and will only be closed to the public when the winter season kicks in.

“Attempts were previously made by the Maintenance section to repair the Roodepan and Floors swimming pools, but unfortunately some members of the community continued to vandalise the facility while work was in progress, to a point that the maintenance team had to stop with the repairs as it was becoming a fruitless exercise,” said Riet.

“Attempts were made to beef up security at the swimming pools, but it all was in vain. Electrical cables were stripped, alarm systems were destroyed, burglar doors and devil’s fork fencing were removed, portions of walls were broken down, barbed wire was removed, and wall spikes were flattened in order for vandals to gain access to the facilities to cause malicious damage to property.

“The Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation section only managed to internally appoint access controllers on contract in February 2022 to patrol and safeguard vulnerable facilities.

“The repairs of the Roodepan swimming pool commenced in September/October 2022 and unfortunately the facility was again broken into in December 2022, however, it will not derail the plan of having the pool operational before the end of this month.

“Floors swimming pool will be attended to immediately after the completion of the Roodepan swimming pool. The section is still awaiting the filter pumps procured to be delivered.”

Riet denied claims that a request by the Roodepan community was turned down.

“Allegations of the municipality declining a request for the Roodepan swimming pool to be fixed are false and distorted. A letter was received by the accounting officer from a particular individual requesting for the ‘community’ to fix the Roodepan pool.

“The MM (municipal manager) is in support of the initiative as it will build a relationship with the community and recommended a formal procedure be followed as the request involves the community and municipal property.

“The procedure that involved the request must be presented to the community service committee and municipal council for approval to be given, and for the municipality to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the community. No presentation has been made by the requester to date,” Riet said.