Excitement as Retreat swimming pool opens
EXCITED Retreat children fidgeted on their feet as they lined up at the community swimming pool, eager to splash around in the water with their friends during the hot holidays.
Mayor Patricia de Lille yesterday temporarily opened the community pool for the festive season after a 19-month closure. Residents had complained about “broken council promises” after the pool was closed for renovations, which were then delayed. The community has been without the facility for two summers because of the delays.
The City of Cape Town said the delay was caused by the termination of a contractor’s agreement after “ongoing non-performance over an extended period of time”.
Norman Braaf, the chairman of the Retreat Aquatics Swimming Club said there were “no words created” to describe his elation. For close on a decade, the club has struggled to secure proper facilities. “It is almost 10 years that we have been waiting and it is finally over.”
He said many great swimmers emerged from the community swimming pool like Achmat Hassiem and Darren Murray.
Because the community pool was closed for a lengthy period of time, it had interfered with training. “For the last two years we could have no swimming. It is so expensive and we could not afford it. They charge you an arm and a leg. We have to train mornings and evenings. Our ‘learn to swim students’ are being taught in the shallow part of the pool. We have a motto that if you teach a person how to swim you save a life.”
Felicia Roman, 65, from Grassy Park said the opening of the pool – albeit temporarily – was a “good thing, especially for the children”.
She said she would be bringing her grandchildren to the pool.
Abdul Dramat, 11, from Seawinds said: “I feel happy that the pool is open. I can swim with my friends now. I am here with my grandmother who is also swimming. She taught me how to swim in the baby pool.”
De Lille said the city would be appointing a new contractor to complete the roof of the community pool. This would commence in April after the summer season.
“In the meantime, we have worked hard to ensure that the pool is safe and ready for use for this summer holidays. Today, we are opening this pool which the community has been so patient about. I want to thank the community and especially the young children for their patience.”