Vandalism forces another Cape Town swimming pool to close
Cape Town's Retreat indoor swimming pool has been forced to shut its doors again, just six months after a major upgrade, following a break-in that caused significant damage to critical systems.
When staff arrived at the swimming pool on Friday morning, they discovered a scene of destruction. The facility's plant room had been broken into overnight. Thieves reportedly stole all the pipes connected to the pool's filtration system and vandalised other key components.
As a result, the water level in the swimming pool had dropped significantly. Officials shut off the facility's water supply to prevent further losses.
'This setback is incredibly disappointing and frustrating,' said Councillor Francine Higham, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health.
'An assessment has to be completed to determine the extent of the damage, and then the process will begin to do repairs.'
Despite the damage, the City's project team has already started emergency repairs that could allow a temporary reopening as early as today. However, complete repairs are only scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
The Retreat pool had just reopened after critical maintenance and upgrades, some of which have now been destroyed.
'This facility is a hub for many local users, including swimming clubs, and the latest closure is a blow,' said Higham.
City officials have urged the community to help identify those responsible for the swimming pool vandalism.
'I want to appeal to the community to please come forward with any information that could help identify those responsible for this wanton act of destruction,' Higham added.
Residents can report incidents to the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700. Tips can also be shared anonymously via the City's 24-hour tip-off line at 0800 110 077, with the possibility of a reward.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
FSCA warning: These well-known people cannot help you to invest
The FSCA urges consumers to exercise extreme caution when investing their hard-earned money and to verify that they are dealing with a legitimate and authorised entity or broker. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is warning consumers to be cautious of deepfake videos featuring well-known individuals promoting specific investments, as well as fraudsters impersonating legitimate brokers and investment firms to scam consumers out of their money. The FSCA warns consumers to watch out for investment platforms claiming to be associated with business mogul Dr Patrice Motsepe, broadcaster Leanne Manas, President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy Paul Mashatile. The authority says in a statement that it has learned that the platforms may be providing financial services to the public without authorisation, while it promises unrealistic returns of between R13 000 and R17 000 per day, on an investment of only R4 500. These platforms also use fake images and deepfake videos using Motsepe, Manas, Ramaphosa and Mashatile's faces. In one of the deep fake videos, a digitally altered version of Motsepe promotes investments offered on the platform, while a manipulated video of Mashatile confirms that the platform is authorised and that investors will receive returns. Another video uses a deepfake of Ramaphosa to promote investments and guaranteed returns. The FSCA says consumers must remember that the individuals behind the platforms are not authorised in terms of any financial sector law to provide financial services to the public. When the FSCA tried to contact the individuals behind the platforms, there was no response. ALSO READ: FSCA says watch out for these scammers FSCA also warns about Momentum Metropolitan and Risto Ketola impersonators The FSCA also warns consumers to look out for fraudulent WhatsApp groups where individuals impersonate Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited and Risto Ketola. It says consumers must be careful when engaging with a WhatsApp group operating under the names 'Q23 Momentum Official Securities Group' and 'Q923 MOSG Official Securities Group'. These groups falsely claim to be affiliated with Ketola, the group finance director of Momentum Metropolitan Holdings, after receiving reports of a scheme where individuals use WhatsApp to solicit funds from unsuspecting consumers. The FSCA points out that the administrators of these groups fraudulently impersonate Ketola and misuse his name, image and professional credentials to promote what is described as 'structured guidance and risk-managed investment strategies'. The group claims to offer returns exceeding 160% and advertises a so-called 'check-in reward initiative,' promising up to R2 000 per month to individuals who promote the group. According to the FSCA, Momentum Metropolitan confirmed that neither it nor Ketola has any association with the WhatsApp groups. Momentum Metropolitan expressed its concern over the growing number of advertisements on Telegram, Facebook and WhatsApp fraudulently linking its brand and executives to unauthorised investment schemes. ALSO READ: FSCA warns consumers about investments with these unregistered entities FSCA also warns about individuals impersonating Brokstok The FSCA also warns consumers to be careful of individuals impersonating Brokstock SA, an authorised financial services provider (FSP) with FSP number 51404 after it received information that Zibu Masotobe Sibiya with WhatsApp number +2771 768 4632 and her associate Mike Mabuyakhulu with WhatsApp number +2779 429 3027 are impersonating Brokstock SA. The FSCA says Sibiya and Mabuyakhulu are unlawfully acting as representatives using Telegram and WhatsApp groups called Brokstock Beginner/s and an FNB bank account in the name of Brokstockshares and the account number 62871907790, with an email address brokstockshares@ Sibiya and Mabuyakhulu lure consumers into depositing funds into a fraudulent bank account. The FSCA points out that Brokstock SA confirmed that the individuals are in no way associated with Brokstock and that any representations suggesting otherwise are entirely false and misleading. Brokstock SA emphasises that it will never share its banking details on public communication channels, such as Telegram or WhatsApp. The FSCA urges the public to exercise caution regarding scams conducted through messaging services and various social media platforms, as these incidents are on the rise. ALSO READ: FSCA warns against FXnonstop offering 40% returns per week Scammers even impersonate the FSCA The FSCA also warns consumers about people impersonating the FSCA and financial services providers. The impersonators use the FSCA logo, details of its staff and fake FSCA certificates to claim an association with the authority to entice consumers to use their services or make investments. The FSCA impersonators offer members of the public help to claim refunds from investments they made with financial service providers, and also offer help to recoup losses they suffered through trading in investment instruments such as crypto assets. 'The impersonators of the FSCA are not authorised in terms of any financial sector law to provide financial services. The FSCA has no association with those impersonating it.' The impersonators also use the FSP numbers issued to authorised financial service providers to solicit investments from members of the public. In addition to using the FSP numbers, the impersonators also use the details of staff and management of financial service providers to lend legitimacy to their operations. The FSCA emphasises that the impersonators are not authorised in terms of any financial sector law to provide financial services. The financial service providers who were impersonated denied any association with these impersonators: Geronimo 2 Audacity Capital, USA Sarasohn Ximen and Aguilar Navarro Joaquin. Despite its attempts, the FSCA was unable to get hold of any of the impersonators. The FSCA reminds consumers to treat any entity or individual purporting to represent the FSCA or to be a financial service provider on any platform with suspicion and to contact the FSCA immediately. ALSO READ: FSCA fines 2 pension fund bosses R30 million each, debars them for 30 years FSCA says this is how to stay out of trouble with the impersonators The FSCA says to avoid unnecessary risk, consumers must not accept financial advice, assistance, or investment offers from individuals or entities not authorised by the FSCA. Authorised financial services providers must clearly display their authorisation status in their documentation. 'If this is not present, consumers must first investigate further before making any payments. We also urge consumers to exercise caution when considering investment or trading offers on social media platforms or any unsolicited offers,' the FSCA says. The authority recommended that you protect yourself by first verifying: That an entity or individual is authorised by the FSCA to provide financial products and services, including giving recommendations about how to invest The category of advice the person is registered to provide, as there are instances where companies or people are registered to provide basic advice for a low-risk product and then offer advice on far more complex and risky products. The FSP number of the entity or individual offering financial services matches the name of the financial service provider on the FSCA database. The FSCA says you can use one of these methods to confirm the status and FSP number of a service provider or someone who claims to be an authorised service provider:
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
UPDATE: Comrades runner Moira Harding being monitored in ICU
In a frightening incident that has gripped South Africa, Comrades runner Moira Harding was found on Monday morning after going missing in the hours after completing the famous ultramarathon in Durban on Sunday. Harding was found near the National Sea Rescue Institute base in The Point area of Durban, several kilometres from the finishing area, and she was quickly airlifted to the Intensive Care Unit at a hospital in Umhlanga. The 54-year-old was reported to be largely unresponsive and in a critical condition when she was found by construction workers after seemingly battling the elements throughout the night, having seemingly becoming disoriented after the race. It's been suggested that the chaotic, crowded and poorly controlled finish at the People's Park, rather than a more expansive stadium, could have contributed to Harding being led astray. Harding had been wearing an '''in case of emergency''' (ICE) rubber bracelet with her emergency contact details when she was found, apparently lying on her back near Durban's harbour. In the latest update, it's believed that Harding is being carefully treated for dehydration and hypothermia, and remains under sedation in order to allow her the best chance of a quick recovery after being found in a hypothermic state. Although she presented no visible signs of injuries, it still remains a mystery as to how or why she ended up so far from the finish area of the Comrades, but some eye witnesses have reported Harding already appeared dazed soon after completing the gruelling marathon. Harding's family waited at the finish with plans of meeting up upon her completion of the race, but real concern set in when she could not be located, leading to a citywide search for more than 12 hours. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said officers were planning to further investigate the incident. 'The woman is currently in hospital and although she was found with no visible injuries, police will await the medical report, which will determine police's next course of action,' he said. Harding's Fish Hoek Athletic Club Manager Andre Blom said that thanks to her emergency tag, her husband was quickly contacted once she was found. 'She was wearing an ID bracelet; they call it an ICE bracelet in case of emergencies, so it's a rubber band which has a tag in it and on that tag, you would then put in emergency contact details so if any person finds you they can immediately phone that tag number and then they will then be able to get into contact the emergency contact for that person that is how they found her husband.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
KZN murder accused found dead in police van after court appearance
Eduan Terblanche (53), who is accused of murdering his partner Stacey van Heerden (49) at a Mooi River hotel on May 28, was found dead inside a police van yesterday. According to The Witness, Terblanche was being transported from the Mooi River Magistrate's Court to holding cells in Pietermaritzburg yesterday, shortly after his bail application was postponed. He was meant to return to court tomorrow for the continuation of his bail application. However, his family confirmed they were last night informed of his death. Police in Mooi River have now opened an inquest docket to investigate the cause and circumstances surrounding his death. KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the incident without naming Terblanche. Netshiunda said police were investigating an incident 'where an inmate, who was being transported from court to the police station, was found dead inside a police van on arrival at the station on Monday'. Terblanche appeared in court yesterday using a crutch and wrapped in a blanket. He was facing charges of murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice after his partner, Van Heerden, was found dead at the Gleneagles Hotel. According to the charge sheet, Van Heerden was killed, allegedly by Terblanche who then reportedly set fire to the hotel room while she was still inside. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
