Johannesburg has managed to open just 20 of its 57 council-run swimming pools six weeks into the summer season, Daily Maverick reports, despite the city's promise that 36 would be ready from 1 October.
Pools traditionally open on 1 September, but compliance and maintenance problems delayed the start. Tenders for pool chemicals closed only in mid-September, and hiring was held up after a new Grade 12 requirement shut out many former staff until the posts were readvertised.
Community development official Thapelo Amad said 13 more pools were due to reopen this week, bringing the total to 33, after a bulk chemical delivery and the hiring of 140 lifeguards. There is no timetable for the rest. Electrical faults and cable theft are blamed at some sites, and a heated pool in Coronationville has turned green because of a broken pump.
Source: Daily Maverick
