Ivory Park’s R43m pool complex still closed nearly a year after JDA progress update

According to The Citizen, the R43m Ivory Park swimming pool complex on Freedom Drive remains closed and has no announced opening date, nearly a year after the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) said the facility was in its final stages.

Built but not open

The Citizen reports the swimming pool complex was promised more than a decade ago and was constructed at a cost of R43 million. The facility is located on Freedom Drive in Ward 111.

Site visit finds structure complete but locked

On July 21, Midrand Reporter visited the complex and found that, despite appearing structurally complete, it had not been officially opened or handed over for public use, The Citizen says.

What the development includes

According to The Citizen, the development features an Olympic-style swimming pool, a splash pool for children, grandstand seating for spectators and several environmentally sustainable features, including solar water heating, rainwater harvesting systems, grey-water recycling and waterless toilets.

Earlier progress and outstanding steps

The Citizen reports that in September 2025 the JDA said the project had reached a significant milestone after completing critical water and electricity connections. The agency said only final phases remained, including completing a bulk sewer connection for ablution facilities, testing pumps, chlorinating and balancing the pool water, and carrying out final cleaning and quality assurance checks before handover.

Questions to the JDA

On July 21, Midrand Reporter sent questions to the JDA requesting an update on the project’s current status, whether the facility has been officially handed over, what outstanding work remains, when residents can expect it to open and the final cost of the development. The Citizen says the JDA has acknowledged receipt of the media enquiry.

Why it matters

The Citizen notes the complex is expected to serve residents of Ivory Park, Kaalfontein and surrounding communities and to form part of Johannesburg’s network of public swimming pools.

“This project was among those that had experienced delays. Following our appointment as the new management, we prioritised addressing the challenges, including the resolution of all outstanding town planning matters,” JDA CEO Themba Mathibe said in last year’s progress update, according to The Citizen.

The Citizen also reported Mathibe said resolving those issues had enabled the agency to move the project closer to completion and that the JDA looked forward to the official handover and the positive impact the facility would have.