A member of the street committees from Ngangelizwe Township, Lungisa Makaba, described the non-functional Ngangelizwe swimming pool as a place where thugs hide after committing crimes.
He said that they are happy that the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality is willing to revamp it.
“This place is used by thugs because there are old buildings that are no longer used here, and there are trees and tall grass. If we can have this swimming pool surely our children will have something to do,” said Makaba.
He added that it will also open an opportunity to those who want to do swimming lessons.
According to him, it’s almost 15 years since it stopped functioning. He added that Ngangelizwe and surrounds have a high rate of crime because youths have nothing to do, so it will be a breakthrough in this community.
Makaba added that this will not only boost Ngangelizwe community, but will attract people because most of the surrounding areas do not have swimming pools.
“If this can happen surely Ngangelizwe will go back to what it used to be, especially since we have the Rotary Stadium that also attracts a lot of people.”
Acting head of Communications from King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Zibele Limani, said that the Ngangelizwe pool has been marred by rampant vandalism for a long time, which is why it was not being used but it was recently decided to revamp it after the community requested it in their Integrated Development Programme (IDP) roadshow. “There are also other contributory factors that led us to revamp it. Swimming is no longer just merely swimming, it is an internationally-recognised sport in which black children show interest to partake ,” said Limani.
He added that if Ngangelizwe kids partake in swimming, it will also keep them away from criminal elements and substance abuse. According to him, they are giving them a purpose in life.
“We believe that it will be rebuilt and completed as soon as we receive the grant applied for this purpose. Ngangelizwe Township also forms part of our plans to revitalise our townships economy, hence the revitalisation of Ngangelizwe Swimming Pool.”
Limani said that with regard to the swimming pool at Savoy Garden in the CBD, they are certain that it will be operating by the end of the coming financial year, 2023/24.
