Equipment worth hundreds of thousands looted from Joan Harrison pool
Electronic timer worth R260,000 taken along with other devices, tools
The Joan Harrison pool complex in Selborne has been hit by thieves who made off with R335,000 of equipment.
Timothy September, of Buffalo City Aquatics, said they only became aware of the theft on Thursday morning while preparing for the short course gala championships.
“The most expensive equipment stolen is the electronic timing device, which costs R260,000. The starting device, which is about R70,000, and tools worth R5,000 were also taken. We had to carry on with the gala without the devices. We actually used stopwatches to log the time of the swimmers,” September said.
He said the break-in would badly affect Buffalo City aquatics in the long run, as they depended on the devices.
“We will be hosting unofficial gala events, but it is going to be challenging as we won’t have the proper equipment.”
Swimming coach Joe Hillstrom said the loss of the Joan Harrison timing device was a huge blow.
“It is difficult to get the times recorded with hand-held watches. It means any records broken cannot be recognised.
The computer and the programmes on the devices calculate swimmers’ times and record them. I have no idea why someone would want to steal this equipment. The other thing is where were the security guards and the cameras when this happened?”
A case has been opened with the police. None of the equipment has been recovered yet.
Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya
said the community was also responsible for guarding properties.
“We are now repairing damaged property, but the communities also have a responsibility to safeguard their properties. We cannot have it as a normal thing that facilities, stadiums, schools and clinics have to be protected against the very same people they serve.
“We maintain the swimming pools on a daily basis, and in the winter season do major essential plant maintenance.”
The Dispatch reported on Friday that the Ruth Belonksy pool complex in Parkside was under siege by vandals.
Barbed wire fencing has been ripped away and CCTV cameras are long gone, presumably sold to the highest bidder. The Parkside pool was refilled with water about a month ago after the lockdown restrictions were lifted, but it has not been officially opened to the public yet.
Parkside resident Scheik Tatchell, who lives directly across the road from the complex, said last week the screams and shouts of young children could be heard at 9pm.
“The security guards and life guards get chased away by the children. They throw stones at the guards, who end up running to my house. The police came to intervene, but they were also chased away by the children.”