Vandalism forces another Cape Town swimming pool to close

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Cape Town’s Retreat indoor swimming pool has been forced to shut its doors again, just six months after a major upgrade, following a break-in that caused significant damage to critical systems.

Vandals hit the newly upgraded swimming pool

When staff arrived at the swimming pool on Friday morning, they discovered a scene of destruction. The facility’s plant room had been broken into overnight. Thieves reportedly stole all the pipes connected to the pool’s filtration system and vandalised other key components.

As a result, the water level in the swimming pool had dropped significantly. Officials shut off the facility’s water supply to prevent further losses.

“This setback is incredibly disappointing and frustrating,” said Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.

“An assessment has to be completed to determine the extent of the damage, and then the process will begin to do repairs.”

Temporary fix may allow quick reopening

Despite the damage, the City’s project team has already started emergency repairs that could allow a temporary reopening as early as today. However, complete repairs are only scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

The Retreat pool had just reopened after critical maintenance and upgrades, some of which have now been destroyed.

“This facility is a hub for many local users, including swimming clubs, and the latest closure is a blow,” said Higham.

City officials have urged the community to help identify those responsible for the swimming pool vandalism.

“I want to appeal to the community to please come forward with any information that could help identify those responsible for this wanton act of destruction,” Higham added.

Residents can report incidents to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on ‪021 480 7700‬. Tips can also be shared anonymously via the City’s 24-hour tip-off line at ‪0800 110 077‬, with the possibility of a reward.