August 22, 2003
By Lucky Sindane
JOHANNESBURG plans to upgrade three of its swimming pools in townships, using an R3,7-million donation from national swimming body, SwimSA.
The City Council has approved a plan to improve facilities at the Dobsonville, Eldorado Park and Lenasia pools, according to assistant deputy director of Strategic Support Services (projects), Sid Clark. "The committee overseeing community development, roads and parks has approved the recommendations."
Work is to begin soon and the pools are expected to reopen in October 2003.
Improvements planned include adding heating systems, renovating the pools, replacing worn pipes and servicing pool pumps and filter systems.
The donation from SwimSA, via a grant from the national lottery, forms part of their plans to build a culture of swimming in the country. The body has a two-pronged approach, to identify talent and to teach South Africans to swim, says Godfrey Monei, from SwimSA's marketing department.
"It would be good to see some young black swimmers at the Olympics," says SwimSA coordinator Shaun Adriaanse.
By improving facilities and access to swimming pools, SwimSA wants to encourage youngsters to learn to swim, reducing the number of deaths by drowning, and teach people about water safety, says Monei.
SwimSA are presently negotiating with the Department of Education to hold classes at schools to teach young learners to swim. ''We are targeting primary schools," says Adriaanse.
The upgrade of the three township pools will be a joint project between SwimSA and the City's Social Development Department, with work on the Dobsonville swimming pool totalling R1 416 540; the upgrade in Eldorado Park costing R 1 416 540; and the work at the Lenasia swimming pool expected to be R886 920.
SwimSA already has clubs in Lenasia and Eldorado Park, and plans to launch a new swimming club at the Dobsonville pool.
