THE Kings Park swimming pool will reopen soon.
The eThekwini Municipality had budgeted R42 million to rehabilitate the facility, to enhance both its aesthetics and functionality.
The infrastructure was damaged by strong winds last year.
The Kings Park Swimming Complex features both indoor and outdoor facilities. The indoor section boasts a 50-metre swimming pool, while the outdoor area includes a 25-metre-long, 6.5-metre-deep diving pool.
According to the eThekwini Municipality, it is the only swimming facility in South Africa with International Swimming Federation accreditation, recognised by the International Olympic Committee for hosting international water sports competitions.
Key improvements that are being undertaken include the installation of 1500 LUX lighting, glass window replacements, non-slip coatings for stairs and paving, upgrades to walkway structures and handrails, a complete overhaul of two canteen areas, plastering and painting, new signage, a scoreboard, and diving boards.
The pool was closed in November and repairs are expected to be completed by the end of April.
South African open water swimmer, Chad Ho, said they were excited about the revamp, adding that it was long overdue.
"This is South Africa's best facility. We need to maintain and look after this facility and keep it at top competition level. Several clubs and the public will be excited to have a refurbished facility.
"It wasn't ideal that the revamp took place towards the busiest swimming time, but it will be worthwhile in the end," said Ho.
Ho, an athlete representative convenor for Swim SA, said it would be great to host local and international competitions at the facility again.
"World records have been set in this pool, so it is not a slow pool. We want to get swimming and aquatics back to where it was in the past and see more Olympic swimmers come from this pool," said Ho.