The City of Cape Town’s recreation and parks department has begun the phased reopening of community swimming pools ahead of the 2025-’26 summer season.
The department has 37 swimming pools across the metro – five are open year-round –the indoor facilities in Blue Downs, Long Street, Retreat and Strand; and the seawater pool in Sea Point.
Twenty-two pools are already open and following completion of scheduled works, a total of 29 pools will be open by end of November, and 36 by 12 December for the school holidays. The Vulindlela swimming pool in Gugulethu remains closed indefinitely pending major upgrades currently in planning stages.
Operating hours
Annually, community swimming pools are generally open between late October and the Easter weekend. Normal operating hours are weekends only, due to much lower demand during the work/school week, and then seven-day operations during the peak festive season, from 1 December. Operating times are between 10:00 and 18:00, with the last ticket sold at 17:30.
Community facilities that have opened to the public for the season thus far are Athlone, Atlantis, Bellville Central, Bonteheuwel, Brown’s Farm, Eastridge, Elsies River, Emthonjeni, Hanover Park, Kuils River Resort (for resort patrons only), Langa, Lentegeur, Morningstar, Muizenberg, Observatory, Parow North and Trafalgar.
“Some facilities cannot reopen immediately due to ongoing maintenance and upgrade projects. The upgrades vary by site and include structural, civil and mechanical plant room repairs, maintenance and upgrades. The City is committed to providing quality, safe facilities to its residents and the recreation and parks department is working closely with contractors to ensure that timelines are adhered to,” said Mayco member for community services and health, Francine Higham.
November
Seven swimming pools scheduled to open in November are: Delft, Khayelitsha, Newlands, Parow Valley, Ravensmead, Ruyterwacht and Westridge. Seven swimming pools are scheduled for opening in December are Bellville South, Goodwood, Kensington, Manenberg, Mnandi, Monwabisi and Wynberg.
The Sea Point Swimming Pool remains open to the public while upgrades to its iconic entrance continue, funded by the Friends of Sea Point Pavilion (FSPP). The renovation cost is currently estimated at approximately R1,8 million raised from the food court initiative. Visitors are advised to take care around the upgrade area, which is expected to be completed before the builders’ holiday in December. Improvements include renovations to windows, doors and woodwork, interior painting and the construction of a new cash room. The project aims to enhance the look and feel of the entrance hall while preserving the character of the much-loved facility.
The City has deployed over 490 senior and seasonal lifeguards across its pools and beaches, with an additional 67 bolstering this total in December, as part of its summer readiness plan. This ensures proactive safety, drowning prevention, and a welcoming environment for all residents and visitors.
Residents are encouraged to monitor the City’s official communication channels for updates on pool availability and ongoing upgrades.
