Unreasonable, confrontational behaviour by senior City Official towards parent and daughter

Newlands Swimming Pool – Unacceptable conduct and harassment of a father and young swimmer by a City official, including photographing her swimming training guide

I had a deeply disappointing experience at Newlands Swimming Pool today, 9 October 2026, between approximately 13:20 and 15:00, while accompanying my young daughter during her swimming training.

The pool was relatively quiet, and no lanes were demarcated. My daughter was using a starting block when a lifeguard told her she could not dive. She immediately got off the block and entered the water.

Following this interaction, a senior City facility official approached us and initiated a prolonged, confrontational discussion. He challenged my right to coach my own daughter and argued about her use of the pool saying she was swimming up and down and that constituted using a lane. (No lanes were demarcated) and two other adult swimmers were also swimming "up and down". He persisted in this confrontational manner despite my explanation that she had immediately complied and that he was interrupting our time together.

More concerningly, the official used his mobile phone to photograph the paper containing my daughter's swimming training programme after directly telling her that he would do so. I consider this conduct deeply inappropriate, even despicable in the circumstances. What legitimate purpose was served by photographing a young swimmer's personal training programme during an unnecessary confrontation with her father?

Later, when I was near the mirrored office overlooking the pool, I observed him tilt his phone in my direction, raising concerns that I might also have been photographed or recorded.

I have no objection to legitimate safety measures. My concern is the manner in which authority was exercised, the unnecessary confrontation with a parent and young swimmer, and the photographing of a minor's training guide without any explanation of its purpose.

Public swimming facilities should encourage young people to participate in sport and develop their abilities. Parents and children should be treated with consideration and respect, not subjected to unnecessary confrontation that disrupts their training.

This was an unacceptable experience, and I hope the City takes seriously the importance of professional conduct at its public swimming facilities.