Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Marius Marais and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached pictures here, here, and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality condemns the continued closure and deterioration of public swimming pools in the Dihlabeng Local Municipality, which have been left abandoned for nearly ten years. This ongoing neglect is a clear symbol of municipal failure and a lack of accountability.
Public swimming pools are essential community assets, not luxuries. They provide safe recreational spaces for children, youth, and families, particularly in communities where residents cannot afford private facilities. Their prolonged closure has denied residents these benefits and forced many children to seek unsafe alternatives in rivers, dams, and other hazardous areas – putting lives at risk.
Despite repeated promises, approved budgets, and public commitments, no meaningful progress has been made to restore these facilities. This reflects a disturbing pattern of mismanagement, broken promises, and a failure to prioritise communities’ needs.
If Dihlabeng cannot maintain basic recreational infrastructure, residents are justified in questioning its ability to deliver essential services, including water, electricity, roads, and sanitation.
The DA calls on the Dihlabeng Local Municipality to urgently:
- Publish clear and credible timeline for the rehabilitation of all swimming pool facilities.
- Disclose all funding allocated and spent on these projects over the past decade.
- Ensure accountability for officials and contractors responsible for the prolonged inaction.
- Provide regular, transparent progress reports to the community.
A decade of neglect is not an accident – it is a failure of leadership. Residents deserve safe, functional public facilities and a municipality that fulfils its obligations.
The DA will continue to use every available oversight mechanism to ensure that the people of Dihlabeng receive the services and dignity they deserve.