Hence ,the Ekurhuleni Metro is ready to help beat the heat with the opening of all new and revamped community pools for the swimming season.
According to metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe, in preparation for the splish-splash season, the metro conducted extensive maintenance and repair work on all its pools during the winter, while constructing new pools in other areas.
“The swimming season preparation work included an advanced training course for lifeguards, who will serve communities as qualified lifesavers, trained by Lifesaving South Africa,” said Gadebe
“The certification they obtained is valid for a year and must be renewed annually through theoretical and practical examinations.
“In an effort to curb the rising number of drowning cases in community pools, and to ensure the residents’ safety, the municipality is offering patrons of all ages, from three years up, the Learn-to-Swim programme conducted by qualified swimming instructors.
“The programme aims to assist a person with no swimming skills, or to develop intermediate swimmers into advanced swimmers.”
He added that Ekurhuleni has over 30 community swimming pools, with two lifeguards allocated to each, who are responsible for all lifesaving duties, facility management, water treatment and testing, asset control, housekeeping and crowd control.
“Pool maintenance and repair work is still ongoing at facilities located in Van Dyk Park (Boksburg), Katlehong, Daveyton and Etwatwa, as well as at Olympia Park and Selection Park, in Springs,” Gadebe added.
“These swimming pools will, therefore, not open over this swimming season.
The Boksburg North Swimming Pool will be closed on Mondays and open on Tuesdays to Thursdays (5am to 8pm), Fridays (5am to 5.30pm), Saturdays (10am to 6pm), and Sundays and public holidays (2pm to 6pm).
Operating hours for the pools in Vosloorus, Reiger Park, Parkdene and Atlasville are as follows: closed on Mondays and open on Tuesdays to Saturdays (10am to 6pm) and Sundays and public holidays (2pm to 6pm).
The entrance fee to all community pools with turn-style gates is R5 per person.
Gadebe said school children will not be allowed entry to public swimming pools during school hours, unless prior arrangements have been made by their school.
“This is, however, subject to approval by the Metro’s Sports and Recreation Department,” he concluded.
