City pools ready to welcome families during September school holidays

19 September 2026

City swimming pools will be open daily from 23 September to 5 October 2026, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy swimming and recreation during the September school holidays.

With spring in full swing, the City’s swimming pools will provide visitors with an opportunity to stay active, cool off and enjoy the warmer weather. Swimming pools will be open from 10:00 to 17:00 daily during the school holiday period.

Five swimming pools will remain closed during the September school holidays while essential major maintenance and improvement work is carried out:

·       Westridge Swimming Pool

·       Bellville Central Swimming Pool

·       Mnandi Swimming Pool

·       Athlone Swimming Pool

·       Vulindela Swimming Pool

Maintenance work at Westridge, Bellville Central, Mnandi and Athlone swimming pools forms part of the City's ongoing efforts to ensure safe, functional and well-maintained facilities for residents. The reopening of these four pools will follow a phased-in approach and once the maintenance is completed the facilities will be subject to quality assessments and safety checks. The department will announce the reopening dates once confirmed.

Vulindela Swimming Pool remains closed for this summer season pending redesign and redevelopment planning.

Following the school holidays, public swimming pools will operate on a reduced schedule until 1 December 2026. Pools will be open from 13:00 to 17:00 from Wednesdays to Fridays, and from 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.

The City’s Recreation and Parks Department is also preparing for the busy festive season, with the appointment of seasonal lifeguards currently underway. This forms part of the City’s preparations to ensure adequate and effective supervision at swimming pools across the metro during the peak summer period.

 ‘We are delighted to welcome residents back to our swimming pools for the school holidays, and as we head into the warmer months. Our public swimming pools are important community spaces where families and young people can get active, cool off and enjoy time together.

‘The City continues to invest in our swimming pool infrastructure to ensure these facilities are safe, well-maintained and able to serve communities for years to come. This includes significant investment in upgrades, repairs and maintenance, with major works completed in the last financial year or under way at several facilities.

‘Most of our swimming pools will be open every day during the school holidays, giving families and young people an opportunity to get active and enjoy the warmer weather. We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable visit, so please listen to our lifeguards, follow the pool rules and make sure children are supervised at all times,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.

For information on pools and operating hours please access: Swimming pools - News and Notices (capetown.gov.za).

Captions: Cllr. Higham on an oversight visit to Delft Swimming Pool

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