With the City of Cape Town having recently announced that the Goodwood swimming pool is among some that would not be immediately opened to the public this season, a resident of the suburb shakes his head in disbelief.
The news has left a bitter taste in Kirk Daniels’s mouth as he was eagerly waiting for the facility to open so that his eight-year-old daughter can start practising again.
“We have been using the facility in Goodwood for about three years before the Covid-19 pandemic hit,” he says.
“It was the best facility to use because of the infrastructure, we even saw that in the progress she had made.”
Now that the public would have to wait a while longer to make use of the swimming pool, Daniels says they have to make use of a less-popular facility. “Getting the necessary training has become quite challenging now that we have to travel all the way to less-equipped Parow swimming pool.”
He says that more people use the facility in Parow as it is the “next best thing”.
“Not everyone gets the opportunity to swim though, because once a certain number of people have entered the premises, the facility is closed off to prevent more people from entering.”
Daniels says he is not quite sure why the swimming pool in Goodwood was closed off to begin with.
“We were told that it was closed to allow maintenance work to be conducted, but nobody really knows for sure. We also do not know when it is scheduled to be opened for the public to use.”
Along with Goodwood, the City says other swimming pools such as Athlone, Bellville, Bellville South, Bonteheuwel, Delft, Manenberg, Mnandi, Newlands, Parow North, Parow Valley and Ravensmead are undergoing repairs and maintenance and will be opened in phases throughout the summer season.
“The City will communicate opening dates as they are confirmed,” the metro says.
Apart from those that will be opened in phases, some swimming pools will not open at all this season. These are Eastridge, Elsies River, Emthonjeni, Morningstar, Observatory and Vulindlela.
The reason for this is that they will undergo major repairs which include the replacement of circulation pipework and valves, resurfacing pool basins, resealing of expansion joints and repairs to filtration plants.
“The City wants to ensure that these facilities are equipped with everything to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone when these pools are ready to be opened.”
