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2026-01-23 10:52:45 +0200
To: Councillor Francine Higham, City of Cape Town
City Of Cape Town, Reopen our Community Pools!
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Since 19 January 2026, the City has closed the community pools during the week – for the hottest months of the year in Cape Town.
This is despite their announcement in November that all pools would be open every day from 1 December 2025 to mid-April 2026.
This is despite their announcement in November that all pools would be open every day from 1 December 2025 to mid-April 2026.
We ask the City of Cape Town to reverse its decision and immediately reopen all community pools during the week until mid-April.
Why is this important?
The community pools are located in areas of Cape Town including Athlone, Bonteheuwel, Delft, Hanover Park, Khayelitsha, Langa, Manenberg, Woodstock etc where there are very limited recreational resources available to the community. The community pools are one of the most used facilities by the community during the summer months.
The pools which charge just R3 for children and R9 for adults are affordable and safe and keep the children off the street in summer. Children do have time to do go to the pool after school in February and March, not just on the weekends, because they don't have exam pressure yet. Adults in the communities use the pools to exercise, including senior citizens.
Many of the lifeguards working at the community pools come from the communities themselves and desperately need this seasonal work.
Many of the lifeguards working at the community pools come from the communities themselves and desperately need this seasonal work.
Unlike in the green, leafy suburbs, these communities do not have access to private swimming pools. Closing the community pools and only providing budgets for regional pools like Sea Point is therefore a blatantly anti-poor way to spend Cape Town’s budget.
* Stand with our vulnerable communities and our children – sign & share now. *
Want to do more? Email or whatsapp your ward councillor asking them to reopen your local pool immediately.
Find your ward councillor and their email address here: https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/meet-the-city/city-council/find-your-councillor-ward-or-subcouncil/show-wards
* Stand with our vulnerable communities and our children – sign & share now. *
Want to do more? Email or whatsapp your ward councillor asking them to reopen your local pool immediately.
Find your ward councillor and their email address here: https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/meet-the-city/city-council/find-your-councillor-ward-or-subcouncil/show-wards
#ReOpenOurPoolsNow and bring back the summer fun!
Umbrella Civic 57+
Aqua-aerobics for seniors group at Trafalgar
Bonteheuwel Development Forum
Cape Town Commons Collective
Observatory Civic Association
Reclaim the City
Trafalgar Amateur Aquatic Club
Walmer Estate Civic Association (WECA)
Woodstock Residents’ Association (WRA)