Hillcrest Pool
The main pool in Pretoria for many years, originally a 55-yard-long pool, today it is 50m heated outdoor venue. Just like the Johannesburg pool at Ellis Park, the Hillcrest pool has been a major venue for aquatic sports in Pretoria.
Serial world record breaker Karen Muir set a new world record for the 220 yards backstroke in the Hillcrest Pool, Pretoria, on January 28, 1967.
Read more about Karen Muir's 18 world records here.
Campaign gathering force to keep iconic Hillcrest swimming pool open
2023
Pretoria - The campaign to pressure the City of Tshwane to keep Hillcrest swimming pool open is gathering momentum.
This comes after close to 2 000 residents signed an online petition demanding the reopening of the historic public facility with immediate effect.
City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the pool was temporarily closed and that unlike other pools it remained open longer than the swimming season, which was until the end of April, for training purposes.
“All other pools closed on April 10, 2023, at the end of the 2022/2023 swimming season,” he said.
The pool, he said, would be closed until such time as the water could be heated to the required temperature for safe usage by clients.
“This is done in order to comply with the standard operating procedures for swimming pools. Another factor that led to the closure was the filtration system that could also not function optimally due to a huge leak on the main pipe,” he said.
But, petitioners who want the city to keep the iconic pool functioning, bemoaned its closure, saying: “Many olympians and national champions have trained here every day and built their swimming careers by competing in competitions hosted at this pool.”
According to them, lack of funds to perform maintenance has resulted in the pool being “closed indefinitely”.
They expressed worry that the pool closure would have a negative impact on residents who could not afford the fees of gyms and private pools.
Some people, they said, might want to learn to swim; train for various galas, open water events and/or triathlons; keep fit and obtain qualifications for jobs in the navy, police or airlines.
By noon yesterday, at least 1 874 signatures were recorded on the online petition.
One of the petitioners, Sue Peterkin, said: “This is the pool where I do my swim training all year round. The facility has been sorely neglected and has been on a downwards spiral for many years now.
“Swimming is an important life skill which our children should learn at a young age, and obviously Hillcrest is integral to that. Pretoria residents should have access to a clean, well-maintained pool in a safe environment with friendly and helpful staff.”
Another, Lerisa Roberts, said: “My children are registered SA Swimming swimmers. Our galas are held at Hillcrest swimming pool. This is where they qualify for the respective galas, such as SA National Juniors. Our inter-primary and inter-high school galas are also held at Hillcrest Swimming Pool. Please save the pool. This is a much-needed facility.”
Minétte Teessen, who was training for a cold open-water event in Langebaan, said: “As a cold-water swimmer from Gauteng, I always find it difficult to get hold of a 50m (to train for distance) and cold-water pool (to acclimatise in) to train in during the winter. I am not alone.”
Mashigo said the closure of the swimming pool was required to address the major repair and maintenance needs through one of the appointed service providers.
“The major repairs and maintenance work include attending to all leaks. The last major service was done during March 2020,” Mashigo said.
Pretoria News
Residents demand action as Hillcrest Pool is refilled without maintenance
May 9, 2025
The pool has been refilled without proper maintenance or public notice, sparking outrage among residents. Despite the city's claims of ongoing repairs, the facility remains in disrepair, leading to calls for private management to restore and maintain the pool for community use.
Residents of Hillcrest in Pretoria East are once again voicing their frustration over the prolonged closure and deteriorating condition of their cherished community swimming pool.
Despite recent efforts by Tshwane to refill the pool, the facility remains closed, raising serious concerns among locals about the municipality’s commitment to public amenities.
The Hillcrest Swimming Pool, a 50-metre Olympic-sized facility, has long been a cornerstone for local swimmers, athletes, and families seeking recreational activities.
However, the pool has faced ongoing issues, including heating system failures, water leaks, and a lack of proper maintenance.
In May 2023, the pool was temporarily closed for refurbishments, such as fixing heating faults and water leaks.
Yet, many residents contend that no substantial work has been done since, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
Resident Herman van der Westhuizen, who has been using the pool for over 50 years, expressed his concerns.
“It’s a stupid way to just close the pool. They must show us how much water they’re losing.
“You can’t say the pool is closing because it’s wasting water without knowing how much,” he said.
He criticised the city’s failure to address the pool issues during its extended closure.
“Why didn’t they look for the faults while the pool was closed for all 6 to 7 months?”
Van der Westhuizen highlighted the pool’s current state, noting that the water had turned green due to the absence of chlorine treatment.
“The water in the pool is green because they did not add chlorine,” he said.
He suggested that the facility should be handed over to private investors who are willing to maintain and invest in its upkeep.
He said private investors would ensure better management and increased accessibility for the community.
Another resident, Dr Genevieve Symonds, said as a ratepayer, she is frustrated over the prolonged closure of the pool.
“I’m sick and tired of it. Children who belong to swimming clubs couldn’t swim this season because they had nowhere to swim.”
She also criticised Tshwane’s mismanagement of public resources.
“We have no street guards, potholes everywhere, and water running down the streets.”
Symonds also pointed out that while the metro claims pools are closed due to water restrictions, they are not addressing the underlying issues, such as unaddressed water leaks.
Residents have initiated a petition urging the metro to prioritise the reopening of Hillcrest Swimming Pool.
The petition calls for the facility to be refilled, properly maintained, and reopened for public use.
Residents are advocating for the pool to be managed by private entities capable of ensuring its long-term viability.
Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo defended the metro’s actions, saying that the pool was closed due to water restrictions imposed in October 2024.
He acknowledged its long-standing leak and claimed that maintenance was ongoing, considering budget constraints.
Mashigo explained that the pool was refilled to prevent further damage to its structure and that the water had been treated and was ready to open.
“The green colour of the water is due to a delay in the delivery of chlorine gas,” he said.
The metro has declined residents’ requests to transfer Hillcrest Swimming Pool to private management, citing concerns that commercial tariffs would restrict broader community access.
However, many residents argue that such a partnership could revitalise the facility, ensuring its upkeep and accessibility for all.
“If the facility is privately managed and maintained, commercial tariffs will be implemented, which would deprive the broader community of access to the facility.”