An attack on lifeguards at the Manenberg swimming pool has prompted the City of Cape Town to close the facility until further notice.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Zahid Badroodien, said the lifeguards were brutally attacked by patrons on Saturday afternoon.
“The staff were apparently stoned, resulting in one lifeguard being injured. It is unclear at this stage what prompted the incident.”
A previous attack on a 31-year-old Recreation and Parks employee at the public pool in January. The officer was hit in the face with a brick by an assailant attempting to enter the pool after hours.
“This is extremely disappointing – a few weeks ago, we also closed the pool after a staff member was attacked by a group of youths who tried to break through the fence.”
The City does not condone acts of violence against their staff and will not put their lives at risk.
Further updates will be released pending a reassessment on Monday.
“It is a great pity that the actions of a few are putting at risk the rest of the community’s enjoyment of this public facility,” Badroodien said.
The City encourages locals to report any incidents of crime or ‘anti-social behaviour’.
“We need the community to help us look after the facility and prevent anti-social behaviour from taking place so that the facility can remain open. This is the second episode of this nature at this pool and that any violence at any of our facilities will not be tolerated,” he said.
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