The 130-year-old Buchanan Street Bath, housed in a heritage building, has closed temporarily as a safety measure following health and safety concerns. Msunduzi Municipality spokesperson Ntobeko Mkhize said the closure was intended to protect both employees and members of the public while further technical assessments are conducted. However, the action has drawn concern from residents who rely on municipal pools, particularly as the Olympic Swimming Pool in Northdale has also remained closed for nearly three years due to issues with its water pump system.
Concerned Swimming Fraternity chairperson Jay Jugwanth said the closure of the Buchanan Street pool had resulted in overcrowding at facilities that remain open. The days are hot and people have nowhere to go to cool down. Lifeguards at other facilities have complained that they cannot manage the large crowds, which can lead to unwanted incidents such as drownings.
“These issues need to be addressed,” Jugwanth said. Mkhize said the facility is a declared heritage asset and falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial heritage resources authority Amafa. “As such, any repair, refurbishment or future intervention must comply with heritage legislation and approval processes.
Read Full Article on The Witness
[paywall]
“The municipality is engaging relevant internal departments and external authorities to determine an appropriate and compliant way forward,” Mkhize said. She added that the majority of municipal swimming pools remain operational, including Sobantu, Eastwood, Woodlands and Alexandra, while others are in the final stages of maintenance. The Olympic Swimming Pool is undergoing planned repairs. Issues relating to tanks have been addressed, work on the pump motors is under way, and the pool is expected to reopen shortly.
[/paywall]
