Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Attie Terblanche and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached pictures here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mangaung will write to the Municipal Manager, Sello More, to urgently ensure that the Heidedal Swimming Pool is reopened, cleaned, and made safe for public use.
We will also call for an immediate intervention plan to prevent further drownings, after another man recently allegedly drowned at the nearby quarry where residents are forced to swim due to the pool’s closure.
The Heidedal Swimming Pool remains closed despite being scheduled to open on 1 September. The facility is shocking, the water is green and filthy, the yard is overgrown with long grass, and there are no pool chemicals or sufficient lifeguards available.
Residents have raised serious concerns about the unaffordable entrance fees, currently R21 per child and R34 per adult. These prices place unnecessary strain on families, and yet no municipal subsidy has been provided.
Last year, residents and the DA engaged the Mayor, who acknowledged that the fees were excessive and undertook to address the matter, but no progress has been made. Instead, the pool fees are set to increase by a further R2 from 1 January 2026.
This neglect has forced the community’s children to turn to the local quarry for swimming, a dangerous alternative that has already led to multiple drownings. The most recent alleged drowning is a tragic reminder of the consequences of the municipality’s failure to maintain and reopen the facility.
The baby pool is also in a dire state, three-quarters full of dirty, green water, creating further health risks.
The DA will table a formal request in the next council sitting to compel Mangaung to conduct an urgent clean-up and maintenance of the Heidedal Swimming Pool, review and reduce the entry fees for residents, implement a subsidy plan to ensure affordable access to recreational facilities and deploy adequate lifeguards and provide sufficient pool chemicals.
The closure of the swimming pool not only denies residents a safe recreational space but also endangers lives.
We will continue to hold the municipality accountable to ensure the people of Heidedal can enjoy a clean, safe, and affordable swimming facility.