No relief from the heat as Johannesburg shuts public swimming pools
Johannesburg's public pools will be closed as the school holidays and summer approach.
Johannesburg residents may be left without public swimming pools for an extended period as the city council has announced the closure of all municipal swimming pools starting from 16 November. The decision comes due to a critical shortage of chlorine supplies, which the municipality says is causing an urgent need to shut down the facilities.
Despite the hot and dry summer forecasted by the South African Weather Service, community development officials have acknowledged the community's disappointment and emphasized the importance of health and safety. The department has activated emergency procurement protocols to acquire necessary chemicals, but the worst-affected pools may close earlier than the planned reopening date.
The municipality had initially planned to reopen the pools by 1 September but missed that deadline, reopening only a few facilities in mid-October due to insufficient lifeguards and cashiers. As of Monday's closure, no pool in Johannesburg has been open for more than 39 days since the expected reopening date.
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