Residents of Eltivillas and Louis Trichardt are growing increasingly frustrated over the long delay in refurbishing the two municipal swimming pools in the residential areas, which have been out of use for many years. Some believe the facilities may have been effectively privatised, while others suspect corruption within the Makhado Municipality is to blame.
In 2020, the newspaper reported that the Louis Trichardt swimming pool had been meant to reopen in September 2015. A decade later, nothing has changed. Residents say they are puzzled that the municipality allocated R2 million for each pool in both the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years, yet no visible progress has been made.
The surrounding durawalls at the pools are collapsing, with parts now hidden behind overgrown branches. The facilities have no electricity, no running water and no working toilets. Residents question how security guards stationed at the site are expected to work under such conditions.
Some residents who spoke to the newspaper expressed their frustration.
"It is surprising to see that the municipality has built a strong wall around the swimming pool, yet it has not been functional for years. Here in Eltivillas, we now suspect that the swimming pool has been privatized. As residents, we are concerned that the municipality sometimes approaches us for donations, forgetting that they do not provide us with the services we deserve. When we visit the municipality to request the refurbishment of the pools, we are met with arrogance. We are really disheartened."
Another resident, now living in town, said he used to take his children for swimming lessons at both pools and is disappointed by the continued delays.
"We often see a large number of young people walking around Eltivillas without anything meaningful to do. It would be appreciated if the swimming pools were refurbished. We are especially concerned during school holidays when children have nothing to entertain them," said another resident, who asked not to be named.
Questions about the state of the pools were sent to municipal spokesperson Mpho Rathando on 6 November. Despite several follow-up WhatsApp messages, he did not respond.
Cllr Aaron Madavha, a Democratic Alliance representative in the municipality, said the party was unhappy about the state of the facilities. "Money budgeted for the pools should be used for the intended use and not being diverted for any other use," he said. Another DA councillor, Pierre Smalle, confirmed that funding earmarked for the pools had been redirected to other purposes.