By Teboho Moloi
HARRISMITH – Maluti-A-Phofung has unveiled a R10 million Olympic-standard swimming pool in Platberg, with government leaders saying it will save lives and change sport in the area.
Free State MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Ntombi-Zanele Sifuba officially opened the pool on Friday, 04 September.
Sifuba praised the municipality for listening to residents.
“The municipality has listened to the community when it cried asking for the facility and delivered, living up to the constitutional imperative,” she said.
She said pools like this are essential to keep children off the streets and to promote sports codes that were previously disadvantaged.
“As the department we can only bring programmes, but these facilities belong to the municipalities,” Sifuba said.
“Maintain it. Do not let it dilapidate for future generations.”
The project, completed in 10 months, includes:- Olympic-standard swimming pool- Refurbished Platberg Stadium with new grandstands, dressing rooms, restrooms, showers and fencing MAP Executive Mayor Tumelo Thebe said the pool is open to all races despite being in a formerly white residential area.
“Both black and white communities will definitely use this facility as our government is encouraging integration,” Thebe said.
Thebe said the pool also addresses a deadly problem in rural areas.
“Many rural communities are faced with flooding rivers during rainy seasons which leads to many children drowning because of not knowing how to swim,” he said.
He called on schools to use the facility to teach children to swim.
From neglected stadium to Olympic pool — MAP says Platberg is open for business, and open to all.
