Manenberg pool.
Google© Maps, taken in 2023, accessed in 2023.
- The City of Cape Town has condemned an attack on members of its staff at a public swimming pool in Manenberg, which is closed.
- Over the weekend, dozens of residents illegally entered the facility to swim.
- Police say they are aware of any theft at the pool facility.
Dozens of Manenberg residents, drawn to the crystal-clear water at the local public pool, entered despite the facility being closed, then hurled rocks at staff.
The pool is currently closed so that the water quality can be assessed.
The City of Cape Town condemned the behavior of the residents. However, Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairman Vernon Visagie said he understood residents’ frustration.
Visagie told News24 that when the children saw how clear the water was, they decided to go inside.
“The days are getting hotter and the kids just want to swim before school starts, they couldn’t use the pools for a long time. If the city had been more transparent with us and the residents, I don’t think.” this would have happened,” she said.
Visagie criticized the City for not allowing public input in the pool closure.
“Residents are frustrated and I can understand why. The City has not been in contact with the CPF or residents about an update on how far along the pool maintenance repair job is.
“It’s like they’re singling out Manenberg because of the state of the area. Why should our people pay money to travel to the Sea Point pool or other public pools when we have our own pools in the area?” she asked.
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The city said it had no choice but to close the pool facility for health and safety reasons.
Patricia van der Ross, a member of the mayor’s committee for community services and health, said that although the Manenberg pool was open during the 2021/2022 summer season, the pools had to be closed when concerns were raised about the water filtration system. .
“Water quality was compromised [and] The decision was made to close the pool for assessment so as not to expose the community to unsafe pool conditions and health risks,” Van der Ross said.
Repair
“This year the result of the preparation phase was that rust was observed when the filtration plant was put into service. The magnitude of the problem meant that the pool required repair work, which could not be completed in time for the pool to this station is open.”
According to Van der Ross, the rust that passes through the pipes deteriorates the quality of the water and makes it dangerous for public use. The rust also turns the water milky and makes it difficult to see the pool glass, “which seriously hampers the lifeguards on duty.”
She said the city had not yet determined how much it would cost to repair the pool.
“The department needs to conduct a detailed assessment of the underground infrastructure and pipelines to determine the extent of required repairs.
“Our main concern is the safety and well-being of the community. We call on the public to refrain from attempting to illegally enter the facility for their own safety, and we condemn violent acts of throwing rocks and attempting to physically harm facility personnel,” she added.
Meanwhile, Western Cape Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said they had no record of a pool robbery.
