Brümilda Swartboo
Splish splash… Have you heard? To promote active and healthy lifestyles, city employees now have access to free swimming lessons at the Linden heated swimming pool situated at the corner of 4th Avenue and 11th Street.
Vanessa Montanus, Region B’s Assistant Director of Sport and Recreation, says the swimming lesson programme is in partnership with Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) in Region B and started early in May 2024.
“Lessons take place on Wednesdays, in accordance with the City’s policy, which states that staff can participate in an active activity of their choice,” Montanus explains.
Coaching lessons are done by one of the City’s trained lifeguards, Eugene Coetzee, and his lessons focus on safety. Mainly preventing drowning, water safety, and making everyone feel comfortable in the pool to ultimately eradicate the fear of water.
“It’s one of the reasons we encourage staff to learn to swim so that they can make sure that their families and children are water-safe around pools,” says Montanus.
“Swimming lessons are very expensive, and here’s an opportunity for staff to do them free of charge and to have access to the swimming pool. Both in season and out of season,” Montanus adds.
Montanus notes that the City of Johannesburg aims to foster a healthy and active lifestyle in the municipality, and opportunities like these encourage staff to stand as ambassadors for following a healthy and active lifestyle.
“This is a golden opportunity for staff to get lessons free of charge, and it is so important for each and every one of us to become fit and healthy because, in that way, we can be more productive employees with fewer sick days, subsequently becoming ambassadors of a healthy and active lifestyle,” she adds.
One of the swim students, Mbali Mthetho, an intern at CRUM, says it is an amazing opportunity to improve her swimming skills, and she is grabbing it with both hands. “I’m happy about the opportunity,” she says with a shy smile.
Those interested in joining have to sign up by sending an email to Moipone Thini-Lekala at moiponet@joburg.org.za or Montanus at VanessaM@joburg.org.za. Employees are only exempted from paying entry fees when they sign up.
Montanus is also available to assist with additional queries.
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