Where one man is making waves

A high-rise architectural dome nestled between houses peeps through the heart of Pimville, Soweto, where one man is making waves literally and figuratively.

- Thando Nondywana

Sibusiso Zabane, 43, has devoted his life to a mission that transcends the boundaries of sport.

He is not just teaching swimming; he is instilling hope, health and resilience in a community often overlooked.

During summer, the quiet suburb echoes with sound of splashing water and wet feet slapping the worn out bleachers that line the side of the pool of what becomes a theatre of dreams.

"This is where it happens," he says as he walks through the Pimville indoor swimming pool.

Here, Zabane helps beginners, who have never had a chance to learn how to swim, face their fear of drowning and improve their health.

The lifeguard-turned-coach launched the class in 2021, when Covid was at its height, in an effort to help vulnerable older members improve respiratory health at Pimville swimming pool.

"The Covid strain affected the respiratory system, mainly among older people, and as more research was done about the virus, I started initiating this programme.

"Using the pool was good for people's blood circulation and the chlorine and the high pH in the water had great results," he explains.

The programme, now in its fourth year, began with just eight elderly women and quickly grew as more joined from areas including Mofolo Village and White City.