Something exciting is happening in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. What began as a bold vision to transform aquatics in South Africa has now taken on a fresh new identity. Formerly known as the South African Aquatics Park (SAAP), the R186 million aquatic centre project has officially rebranded as AquaPark.
The name change is more than cosmetic. In today’s fast-paced, media-rich world, clarity and impact matter. “AquaPark” is short, memorable, and filled with energy. It captures who we are and what we’re building — a dynamic, world-class aquatics hub for South Africa and the continent at large.
Whether you’re a future Olympian, a school swimmer, a child learning to swim, or a brand that wants to support social impact, AquaPark is built for you. Our world-class Myrtha pool will serve swimmers of all levels and varied aquatic disciplines — from competition level, special olympics and water polo, to Learn-to-Swim and community programmes.
Alongside the new name comes a fresh visual identity. At the heart of our logo is a circle of flowing waves — an elegant symbol of water, unity, and progress. The shades of blue evoke depth, movement, and calm. Whether online, on poolside signage, or on a team’s t-shirt, the new branding is clean, modern, and built to inspire.
And then there’s our new payoff line: Water. Talent. Transformation. Three words that say it all.
Water – the foundation of everything we do.
Talent – the athletes, coaches, and young learners who come here to grow.
Transformation – the lives we change and the communities we uplift through access, excellence, and opportunity.
AquaPark is not just a pool — it’s a vision brought to life. It’s a place where children take their first strokes, school teams come to compete, and elite athletes push their limits. Our Olympic-standard 50m Myrtha pool with a movable bulkhead will support high-performance training and national and international events, while our Learn-to-Swim and para-swimming programmes ensure no one is left behind.
AquaPark is a purpose-built aquatic centre with a broad scope, catering to diverse needs from foundational Learn-to-Swim initiatives and para-swimming to elite Olympic-level training. Our facility boasts an Olympic-standard 50-metre Myrtha pool equipped with a movable bulkhead, enabling high-performance activities and hosting significant competitions. Welcoming swimmers, water polo teams, para-athletes, coaches, enthusiasts, and the community, AquaPark is an educationally driven community initiative managed by an independent NPC dedicated to the development, coordination, and promotion of aquatics in South Africa.
Our partnership with the Xhawula Precinct ensures that AquaPark is part of something even bigger: a cleaner, greener, safer Pietermaritzburg. While AquaPark activates the space through sport, Xhawula drives long-term development for the precinct and its people.
This project is about creating opportunities, saving lives through water safety training, and transforming South African aquatics at every level — from grassroots to global competition.
As we edge closer to opening our doors, the energy is building. The rebrand to AquaPark signals a confident step forward, setting the stage for world-class events, life-saving community initiatives, and real transformation.
But to bring this dream fully to life, we need the support of sponsors, partners, and champions who believe in the power of sport to change the future.
Once every few decades there are moments where our actions seem to carry existential weight, where the opportunity to tilt a precinct, a city and a province back in the right direction, is ours.
The new AquaPark will make Pietermaritzburg a premier destination for swimming in the Southern African region. A High-Performance Sport Complex capable of hosting Olympic trials and training (swimming and water polo), will fill a gap in Southern Africa and reignite the reputation of Pietermaritzburg as the epicentre of South African swimming and sport.
The Park will link with sports medical professionals and contain a high-performance gym that is open to the public and offers commercial opportunities.
The initiative is part of the commitment to bring Pietermaritzburg to life and to harness the assets of extreme sport events that have made the city famous over many decades. We believe that acting now has the potential to bring about a transformative impact on the economic prosperity of Pietermaritzburg, creating ripples of positive change throughout its economic landscape.
To follow the journey or contribute to the vision, connect on social media.
296-731 NPO. PBO Reference No.930077093
Xhawula uMgungundlovu Aquatics NPC
Registration: 2022/712751/08
296-774 NPO. PBO Reference No. 930079665