In almost-as-petty Jo’burg, the water is sparkling white
The National Party-controlled Johannesburg City Council recently attacked Boksburg for reimposing petty apartheid — but Johannesburg is hardly blameless when it comes to “separate amenities”.
Of the 29 swimming-pools administered by the council, not a single one is open to people of all races. This is true even of “grey areas” such as Mayfair, Hillbrow and Doornfontein, where black residents are likely to be given legal status within a few months.
And although the city boasts of being the first to open parks to all races, in 1974, 20 of the 21 indoor recreation centres under municipal control remain closed to black people.
The centre in Braamfontein, which is often frequented by international guests staying in nearby hotels, is the sole exception. It was opened to all about three years ago after a black American guest of the Braamfontein Hotel complained about being denied access to the centre’s squash court.
“Anybody who thinks there is a difference between Boksburg and Johannesburg should look again,” says Progressive Federal Party city councillor Claire Quail, who complained that even a private pool in her ward of Norwood was “forced to abide by the city council’s petty apartheid”.
This was a reference to Aqua Land — formerly the Patterson Park municipal swimming pool, which the council has leased to a private firm.
Aqua Land’s managing director, Jonathan Fleisher, confirmed that the pool was officially open only to white people. “We try not to embarrass people, and we have admitted blacks on occasions,” he said. “But I can’t say that we haven’t turned people away because of their colour.”
Commenting on the position at municipal pools, Fanie Smuts, of the council’s parks and recreation department, said: “We have swimming galas and reserved club times during which coloureds and Indians often participate.
“Black people are generally not that interested in swimming, and there are pools available in their own areas.”
Inquiries revealed that the Diepmeadow area of Soweto has three municipal swimming pools but that because of damage, none are in use.
Johannesburg’s record on tennis courts and soccer fields is slightly better.
According to Smuts, the council’s department of parks and recreation leases its courts to about 45 tennis clubs affiliated to the Southern Transvaal Tennis Association, while a similar association oversees the use of football pitches. Neither has racial restrictions on membership.
The tennis courts open to the public on a casual basis are open to people of all races, Smuts added. However Quail said she had a file “stuffed with complaints” from people who had been denied access to “open” facilities at Zoo Lake and elsewhere.
Asked why tennis could be nonracial while swimming could not, Smuts said: “Many people feel uncomfortable when they’re in the same environment, same water” with others of a different race.