City moves swim season back one month while some pools remain in poor condition
The City of Johannesburg has postponed the opening of its municipal swimming pools for the 2026/27 season from 1 September to 1 October, the Community Development Department said, citing the need to bring facilities into compliance with health, safety and operational requirements.
Tapelo Amad, the city’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, confirmed the delay in statements reported by Daily Maverick. The city plans to open 36 pools in stages during October, but officials have not yet published the full list of which facilities will operate and when.
The delay affects a system of 57 municipal pools across Johannesburg. Last year, the city opened 35 pools on 1 September with a further 18 scheduled to open later; ultimately 37 were operating before the holiday period, according to the department’s records shared with reporters.
- Scheduled opening: moved from 1 September to 1 October.
- Pools planned to open in October: 36.
- Total municipal pools in Johannesburg: 57.
Journalists who inspected several pools ahead of the original opening date described a mixed picture of neglect and mechanical failure. UA.News reported cracked pipes and neglected changing rooms at Zoo Lake, where a community initiative is raising funds for repairs. Other pools, including Ellis Park, Verity Park and East Bank, were reported to have green water — an indicator of problems with filtration or chemical balance.
"Safety and operational requirements were not unforeseeable," said Lyrics Mazibuko, the Democratic Alliance’s shadow Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, calling for an explanation from officials.
Opposition figures and some ward councillors say the city should have anticipated maintenance and staffing needs in advance. Ward councillor Bea Campbell Clute told reporters that Blairgowrie pool was closed because of a shortage of lifeguards after changes to the educational requirements for employment. She added that a local community association had repaired the facility but staffing shortages still prevented opening.
The city operates five heated pools — Ellis Park, Linden, Pimville, Pioneer Park and Coronationville — and last season technical problems affected at least two of these. Ellis Park experienced mechanical heating failures while Coronationville remained closed because of a heating malfunction. The department has not confirmed whether those issues have been fully resolved ahead of the revised season.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total municipal pools | 57 |
| Pools planned to open in October | 36 |
| Heated pools named by city | 5 |
Residents who rely on public pools for exercise, community programmes and respite from heat have reacted with frustration. Community leaders warned that a late opening narrows the available season and may disrupt swimming lessons and lifeguard training that many clubs and schools schedule around municipal timetables.
The city has promised to publish the list of facilities set to open in early October, but until that schedule is released, community groups and ward committees say they are left uncertain. Some local associations are already fundraising and conducting repairs where possible, but they lack the capacity to cover large mechanical repairs or to recruit certified lifeguards.
Municipal pool maintenance has been a recurring challenge for the city. Last season’s mechanical failures and delayed openings prompted calls for better planning and for the department to ensure sufficient staffing and preventative maintenance is in place before the start of the season. Opposition councillors argue that these are foreseeable operational issues and that the city should maintain a reserve of ready-to-deploy staff and a more transparent repair schedule.
For now, Johannesburg swimmers will have to wait until the start of October for a phased reopening. The Community Development Department’s timetable and the final list of open pools will be closely watched by residents, community groups and ward offices as the city heads into the warmer months.
