Mcarthur pools to be managed by Cubana

TO ensure its readiness for the upcoming summer season, Nelson Mandela Bay’s McArthur swimming complex will be managed by Cubana restaurant.

This comes after the advertisement for pool management proposals had to be re-advertised because none of the previous three responses met the proposal requirements.

The Bay municipality has assigned the responsibility of managing the complex temporarily to Cubana until a permanent operator is appointed.

In a report to the human resources portfolio committee, corporate services acting executive director Thembisa Nompandana said the municipality had not budgeted to operate and manage the facility.

“The facility is a major tourist attraction and needs to be operational throughout the year.

“The image of the city is negatively affected as prime facilities are vacant and non-operational,” Nompandana said.

“The revenue generated by the facility offsets the running cost and maintenance, for which there is no budget allocation.

“The additional cost to secure the facility 24 hours a day is not budgeted for,” she said.

The municipality needs about R28-million to maintain public pools in the city, but only has R3-million available to do so.

Nompandana said Cubana had expressed interest in operating the facility until a new operator was appointed.

Cubana will be responsible for water purification and cosmetic repairs, but not any major repairs and upgrades.