eThekwini Municipality clarifies Kings Park Swimming Pool refurbishment costs

The eThekwini Municipality has refuted allegations that the cost to refurbish the Kings Park Swimming Pool increased from R20 million to a proposed R80 million. 

Councillor Andre Beetge, DA eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) member, questioned the value the City of eThekwini derived from an initial R20 million expenditure that he now claimed ballooned into a proposed R80 million project.

The pool is undergoing significant upgrades and repairs. Reports indicate that the pool was closed in November 2024 to allow for a major refurbishment after strong winds damaged the roof. The municipality stated that the total Bill of Quantities (BOQ) for the Kings Park Swimming Pool project has always been R86 million.

Beetge stated that he posed the question after a presentation by the municipality’s Architectural Department to the Exco recently, on plans to replace and repair the roof over the Olympic-sized pool.

He said the project originated in 2024 as an emergency, storm-related roof repair, procured through a Section 36 emergency process. 

However, during the recent presentation, it emerged that the structural framework supporting the roof had suffered extensive corrosion and decay over many years, suggesting long-term neglect rather than sudden storm damage.

Beetge questioned whether the contractor initially appointed to repair the roof failed to identify, disclose, or properly report the compromised condition of the supporting structure to the initiating department, the Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) unit. He further noted that the presentation did not clearly demonstrate what value the municipality received for the original R20 million already spent.

“The situation reflects a familiar and troubling pattern within the municipality. Projects commence with unrealistically low contract values, only for costs to escalate dramatically once the city is effectively locked into completing the work. Contractors know that the city’s systems are weak,” Beetge said. 

In response to Beetge’s statement, the municipality stated that the BOQ figure represents the complete cost of the upgrade, rehabilitation, and facelift of the facility.

“There has been no price escalation or alteration to the BOQ. The phased implementation of the project is solely due to budget availability, not cost increases,” the municipality stated. 

• R42 million was allocated in the previous financial year. 
• R20 million has been allocated in the current financial year for Phase Two. 
• A remaining estimated R24 million is outstanding and will be budgeted for in subsequent phases. 

The municipality added that Phase One had been completed in September 2025, at a cost of R41.2 million. This included extensive structural, electrical, mechanical, and aesthetic upgrades.

Key components of the work undertaken include:

• Removal and reinstallation of roof sheeting
• Removal and reinstallation of façade metal cladding
• Removal of asbestos roof
• Removal, redesign, and reconstruction of steel roof members
• Structural steel repairs and refurbishment
• Concrete column repairs and refurbishment
• Mural beam artwork
• Electrical stripping and reinstallation
• Mechanical goods stripping
• Painting

Kings Park Swimming Pool remains one of South Africa’s premier aquatic venues and is the only facility in the country certified with World Aquatics (formerly FINA) status. This designation, which is recognised by the International Olympic committee, allows the venue to host international water sport competitions.

“Given its strategic importance, no shortcuts can or will be taken in its rehabilitation. The city remains committed to transparency and the successful completion of this vital project,” the municipality stated.

Beetge also highlighted that instead of rehabilitating Kings Park as a centrally located, accessible, all-weather training facility, the municipality opted to build a second Olympic-sized pool at Umgababa in the far south of the metro. 

“That facility, also without a roof, offers no year-round indoor training capability and is located in a rural, less accessible area. The result is that Durban now has two underperforming facilities: Kings Park Pool, with a missing roof and deteriorating structures, and the Umgababa pool, exposed to the elements and unsuitable for high-performance training,” Beetge added. 

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