We have good news for families across Cape Town for the rest of this summer: The City of Cape Town announced more weekday access to local municipal swimming pools after community groups raised their voices. What initially looked like a cutback in pool hours turned into a small win for kids, parents, and seniors alike.
What Changed?
Earlier in January, the City of Cape Town announced that 31 outdoor community pools would only open on weekends once schools reopened. This decision was meant to help manage the City’s budget, staffing considerations and respond to lower weekday demand in previous years. While this is understandable from an operational point of view, the decision immediately raised concerns among local residents, parents, caregivers, and community organisations. They didn’t stay quiet and pushed back.
Communities Speak Up
A petition started by the Woodstock Residents’ Association gathered more than 600 signatures within a short amount of time. Supporters of the petition said that the City needed to reconsider because the pools are:
- Affordable — costing just R3 for children and R9 for adults.
- Safe places for kids to play and swim after school in summer.
- Vital spaces for older residents to stay active.
- Especially important where many homes don’t have private pools.
Community groups, including the Bonteheuwel Development Forum, also wrote letters and were ready to protest. They highlighted how the pools support programmes that keep young people active, help teach swimming safety, support lower-income families with no access to private pools and provide supervised activities during the hot summer months.
What the City Has Done
In response, the City changed course:
- Instead of weekend-only access, pools will be open Wednesday to Sunday until early April.
- This change is being piloted to see how much weekday demand there really is.
This gives families the chance to swim after school on weekdays, something many parents and kids asked for. Community leaders have welcomed the extension but continue to call for full weekday access throughout summer, not just a pilot.
Looking Ahead
While the pilot runs until early April, community groups are watching closely to ensure the feedback from families shapes future operating hours. It’s a strong example of how local voices can influence city decisions, and how access to play and fitness spaces matters for Cape Town residents and especially families. Community groups are hopeful that families will take full advantage of the extended hours and that strong weekday turnout will help pave the way for longer opening hours in future summers. For now, families are encouraged to use their local pools, support attendance, and make the most of the opportunity.
New Opening Hours
The new opening hours are as follows (as of Wednesday, 28. January):
- Monday – Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
During the school holiday period from 23 March to 6 April 2026, the public pools will offer full weekday access and operate full-time from 10:00 to 18:00.
Please note that the following six municipal pools will be closing to the public from early February 2026 to undergo major infrastructure repairs required to ensure they are fully operational for the 206/27 summer season. These include: Manenberg, Langa, Lenteguer, Goodwood, Bellville South and Delft.
The City of Cape Town reserves its right to adjust the re-opening dates should this be required due to operational reasons. Keep an eye on their website for updates.
Source: groundup.org.za
