Buffalo City Metro has not given up on getting the ill-fated Mdantsane swimming pool finally functioning, with mayor Xola Pakati announcing a reopening date — again.
This is not the first time Pakati has boldly declared that the pool, which has been closed since the 1980s, would finally be reopened.
In 2017, Pakati had a sod-turning event, promising the NU2 pool would finally be opened in 2018.
He announced a R3m cash-injection which he said would be used to upgrade the pool. Instead of it being reopened, a further R12m was pumped into revamping the pool in 2019, with the work expected to be completed by June.
A year later the facility, which is fast becoming a money guzzler, has a new expected operational date.
Pakati made the announcement while delivering a virtual state of the city address on Thursday night, but did not detail how much had been set aside for the project.
Whether pie in the sky or not, Pakati was confident the metro would finally meet its deadline and reopen the pool.
“The Mdantsane swimming pool project, which is part of the NU2 sports precinct project, is under construction and it is projected that phase one will be completed in April 2021 and would be thereafter opened to the public.
“We have in the recent past experienced acts of vandalism of the pool during this construction phase and we urge residents to protect the swimming pool against acts of vandalism by some community members,” he said.
Residents and opposition parties have, over the years, stressed the importance of reopening the pool, saying children would be taught life-saving swimming skills while others might be encouraged to take up swimming professionally.
The mayor said once completed, “the Mdantsane NU2 swimming pool will host national and international swimming championships and this is why it is designed and constructed to meet national and international swimming standards”.
Once completed, the complex is supposed to boast an Olympic-size pool, a diving pool, a kiddies’ pool and a short-course pool.
On Friday, Pakati told DispatchLIVE the biggest problem was vandalism, and they would now be forced to hire security for the pool when the renovations were done.
“That is just the criminal element from a few people in our communities because once we build things for them, they see it as government or municipality property that must be vandalised.
“We are doing these projects for them at the end of the day. Hiring security to look after the swimming pool will be at an additional cost for the municipality.”
Pakati said they were also making strides in building community sports and recreational facilities and singled out the upgrades to the Sisa Dukashe and Orlando stadiums in NU2.
“These projects are contributing to restoring this urban corridor as a sporting events hub. In addition to this we upgraded the Phakamisa soccer sport and rugby fields, Sweetwaters sports field, NU14 sports field, NU7 soccer and rugby fields, Bunkers Hill sport field and Jan Smuts Stadium,” he said.
The city built the Nompumelelo Hall, while upgrades were done in hall in Gesini, Phakamisa, Ndevana, Tyutyu, Postdam and Greenfields, Pakati said.
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