Johannesburg swimming pools reopening: Full list of open and upcoming facilities

Johannesburg residents hoping to cool off at their local swimming pools this summer have received some encouraging news, with the municipality confirming additional facilities scheduled to reopen as maintenance work continues across the city.

However, the rollout has fallen behind schedule. The City of Johannesburg had aimed to have 23 public swimming pools operational by 12 October, but only 20 had reopened by Wednesday. A further 10 facilities have since been added to the reopening schedule.

The municipality says work is continuing at another 26 pools, although it has not disclosed how many of these are close to completion.

For residents planning family outings as temperatures rise, the latest update provides a clearer picture of which facilities are available and which are still waiting for repairs.

Which Johannesburg swimming pools are open?

The municipality has confirmed that the following 21 swimming pools are currently open to the public.

Open swimming pools:

• Rabie Ridge
• Linden
• Verity Park
• Roosevelt Park
• Blairgowrie
• Florida Lake
• Davidsonville
• Jabulani
• Orlando
• Pimville
• Meadowlands
• Noordgesig
• Zoo Lake
• Paterson Park
• Pioneer Park
• Rhodes Park
• Lenasia South
• Eldorado Park Extension 4
• Eldorado Park Extension 9
• Lenasia
• Greyville

Residents should confirm operating hours and access arrangements with the relevant facility before travelling.

These pools are scheduled to reopen by 19 October

The municipality has identified 13 additional swimming pools that are expected to reopen by Monday, 19 October.

Pools scheduled to reopen:

• Dobsonville
• Jabavu
• Diepkloof
• Power Park
• Senaone
• Sydenham
• East Bank
• Turffontein
• Forest Hill
• Crown Gardens
• Yeoville
• Malvern
• Lenasia Extension 10

The date remains a target rather than a guarantee. Previous reopening deadlines have been missed, so residents should look out for further municipal announcements before making plans.

Why has the reopening programme fallen behind?

The city’s public swimming pools were originally expected to reopen on 1 September, but the municipality missed that deadline. A revised target of 1 October was also not met.

Officials attributed the delays to several operational challenges, including slow maintenance work, shortages of swimming pool chemicals and insufficient staff.

The municipality has since reported progress on some of these issues. The Community Development Department confirmed that it had sourced 3,750kg of pool chemicals and addressed its staffing shortages.

A further 20 lifeguards are expected to start work on 16 October, adding to the existing complement of 140. The city has also hired 40 cashiers.

Community Development MMC Thapelo Amad said the focus was now on increasing operational capacity, maintaining safety standards and ensuring reliable service delivery ahead of the peak swimming season in November and December.

While these developments suggest progress, the remaining maintenance work and infrastructure problems mean not every pool will necessarily be ready at the same time.

Electricity and water problems keep some pools closed

Staffing and chemical supplies are not the only obstacles affecting the reopening programme.

The municipality said electricity interruptions and water-related challenges continue to affect preparations at certain facilities. Resolving these problems depends, in some cases, on other city entities.

Several popular swimming pools remain outside the latest reopening schedule.

Roodepoort’s Exner Street pool is affected by a faulty substation, while Florida North has a burned-out circuit breaker. Both facilities are dealing with electricity supply problems.

Coronationville is also among the facilities that have not made the revised list.

The delays highlight how infrastructure failures can affect public amenities even when maintenance and staffing arrangements are being addressed.

Why Ivory Park and Drieziek are still waiting

Two other facilities face different challenges.

The Ivory Park swimming pool remains closed because of community-related issues, including employment demands and associated security concerns, according to the department.

Meanwhile, the newly completed facility in Drieziek is expected to open once outstanding items on its construction snag list have been completed.

These cases illustrate why reopening dates can differ from one facility to another. Some pools require equipment repairs, while others cannot open until operational or site-related issues have been resolved.

More pools expected ahead of summer

The municipality is working towards increasing the number of operational swimming pools before Johannesburg enters its busiest swimming season.

For families, children and residents looking for affordable ways to spend time outdoors during the warmer months, reopening public pools could provide more local recreation options.

However, with previous deadlines already missed and dozens of facilities still undergoing work, the pace of progress will remain important to watch.

For now, residents can use the confirmed lists above to identify open facilities and pools targeted for reopening by 19 October. Those planning visits should check for the latest municipal updates, as schedules may change if repairs, electricity or water problems delay preparations.

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Source: The Citizen