The Kempton Park swimming pool, once a popular community hub, is set to undergo significant upgrades as part of the city’s efforts to restore vital public facilities. Scheduled for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years, the project aims to breathe new life into the deteriorating pool, which has been out of service since the 2020/2021 season due to pump failures. Ward 16 Councillor Jaco Terblanche confirmed that funding for the upgrades has been secured through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, ensuring that the much-needed renovations will finally move forward.
“We’ve secured the funding, and the pool is included in my IDP priorities. Now, we’re just waiting for the contractor to be appointed so we can begin the revamping process,” Terblanche told the Kempton Express. The pool, a vital part of the community, has fallen into disrepair over the past few years. Vandals have taken advantage of the facility’s abandonment, and the grounds have become a haven for vagrants. “It’s really sad to see such an important community resource in this condition,” Terblanche added. He expressed regret that children, particularly during the holiday season, no longer have access to a safe and enjoyable place to swim.
The planned renovations will address several structural issues that have plagued the facility, including cracks in both the main and children’s pools, which have resulted in significant water loss. In addition to the structural repairs, tile replacement will be carried out, and the filtration and pump systems, which have not functioned properly for years, will be overhauled. These upgrades are necessary to ensure that the pool can operate efficiently once it reopens, providing residents with a much-needed recreational space. The city has allocated R6 million for the 2024/2025 financial year and R6.5 million for the following year to fund these improvements.
Over the years, the pool has fallen victim to neglect and vandalism. The once-pristine Olympic-sized swimming pool now sits in a state of disrepair, surrounded by collapsed walls, fences reinforced with barbed wire, and the visible remnants of illegal dumping. In addition, heaps of waste have accumulated behind the facility, further tarnishing the area and making it uninviting for residents. What was once a place of recreation has become a symbol of neglect and decay, with the community feeling the absence of such an essential resource.
Beyond the physical degradation of the pool itself, the surrounding area has also become a hotspot for criminal activity. The pool’s neglect has led to its transformation into an unofficial shelter for the homeless, compounding the challenges of maintaining a safe and secure public space. As a result, the facility no longer serves its intended purpose as a recreational asset for the community, and its dilapidated state raises concerns about the safety and well-being of those who live in the area.
Despite the efforts to secure funding for the renovation, the Kempton Express reached out to the city on November 27 for more details on the timeline and scope of the upgrades. Unfortunately, by the time of publication, no response had been received. Nonetheless, the community remains hopeful that these long-awaited improvements will bring the pool back to life and restore it as a valuable resource for residents, especially children, who have been deprived of a safe place to swim and enjoy the outdoors for far too long.
