Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Werner Pretorius MPL and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See pictures embedded in the text.
The vast majority of Mangaung’s municipal swimming pools are currently not operational or ready for the upcoming summer season.
The ANC-run Mangaung Metro has allowed our municipal swimming pools and recreational facilities to decay into unsafe, unusable spaces. What should be places where families gather, children learn to swim, and young people develop their sporting talents have instead been left neglected, vandalised and, in some cases, completely abandoned.
Over the past week, I visited the Bloemanda and Heidedal Municipal Swimming Pools, both of which were closed to the public and filled with dark green, foul-smelling water. The DA learned that the Heidedal facility recently fell victim to theft and vandalism, with pumps and electrical equipment either damaged or stolen. See photos here, here, here and here.
Alarming is the lack of municipal swimming facilities for the over 200,000 people of Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, with both facilities being completely run-down. See photos here, here, and here.
Pools in rural communities such as Dewetsdorp and Wepener also lie barren. See photos here and here.
The historic Arthur Nathan Swimming Pool at the foot of the iconic Naval Hill has great potential as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), as the area has seen substantial private-sector investment in accommodation over the last few years. See photos here and here.
The Metro has consistently failed to maintain, upgrade and secure these facilities, leaving communities without safe, functional spaces for recreation and sport.
In local government, the DA will ensure a high standard of upkeep of our municipal facilities, spend allocated grant funding earmarked for these facilities, and work with the private sector to further advance the quality of our recreational infrastructure. Ultimately, we will ensure that these facilities work for the residents of the city.
When pools, fields, stadiums and halls are derelict, we lose more than infrastructure; we lose opportunities to develop talent, create jobs and give our communities hope for a better future.
Functional recreational facilities help keep young people away from drugs and crime, promote healthy living, develop sporting talent and build community pride. When these facilities are neglected, communities lose safe spaces where young people can participate, develop and thrive.
These facilities are important community spaces, especially for young people, providing opportunities for swimming, sport, recreation and healthy development. Their decline means fewer safe and accessible spaces for youth to exercise, socialise and develop their talents, highlighting the urgent need to restore and maintain these facilities.
Across South Africa, DA-run local governments maintain and upgrade municipal swimming pools and recreational facilities, giving communities access to clean, safe recreational spaces. On 4 November, Mangaung residents can vote for the DA to ensure its recreational facilities work for all.