Gym members express frustrations over facility conditions and privacy issues
Members of the Alberton Sports and Fitness Centre have raised their concerns regarding neglected facilities, broken equipment and showering with cold water. The management has promised to address the issues raised.
Patrons of the popular Alberton Sports and Fitness Centre have voiced their disappointment regarding the overall conditions of the gym and issues concerning their privacy.
The group of concerned members highlighted several grievances, including facility maintenance, lack of hot water for showers, and the removal of locker room doors, which they argue compromised their privacy.
Condition of facilities
Several members cited ongoing issues with the general upkeep of the fitness centre.
Complaints ranged from malfunctioning equipment that has not been promptly repaired, to the poor maintenance of equipment.
One member, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned, “Besides being inconvenient, broken exercise equipment can be hazardous. Gyms must put their members’ well-being and contentment first.
“Ignoring complaints about critical facilities and equipment upkeep is not only neglectful; it is also demeaning to those who devote their time, money, and energy to self-improvement,” Anonymous said.
Furthermore, Anonymous said the sauna was not working. It is not just a matter of luxury being denied; those are features that people rely on for post-workout relaxation and muscle recovery.
Hot water complaints
Another significant grievance among the members is the availability of hot water for showers. According to the complaints, the gym has consistently failed to provide adequate hot water, forcing members to shower in uncomfortably cold conditions after their workouts.
“The lack of hot water in cold weather is not only uncomfortable but also unacceptable. Taking a cold shower after a workout may appear extreme to some, but it should not be forced on anyone, especially if they are paying for the service,” Anonymous said.
Privacy concerns
The most contentious issue raised by the group is the recent removal of locker room doors. This decision by the management has sparked outrage among members who feel their privacy is now compromised.
Anonymous said the removal of locker room doors was unacceptable. They expect a basic level of privacy when changing or storing their belongings.
“That is a huge breach of privacy and security. Nobody wants their belongings exposed like that. It is not just inconvenient; it is a violation of trust,” Anonymous said.
Management’s response
In response to these grievances, the Alberton Record met with the centre’s management for comment.
According to the fitness centre manager Otis Blume, they are aware of some issues raised by their valued members and are working diligently to resolve them.
“We have recently installed two geysers to help with the issue because it is winter and water takes time to heat. We now have at least five geysers to ensure our patrons get hot water.
“It has come to our attention some users are bathing for over 15 minutes. This results in other patrons having to shower with cold water, thus we will introduce three-minute tokens, which will allow members to bath for only three minutes,” Otis said.
Otis told the Alberton Record the fitness centre’s equipment was working perfectly fine, and the sauna was in perfect condition.
The management further explained removing the locker room doors was part of ongoing renovations aimed at improving accessibility and safety within the facility.
“We had previously paid a specific company to paint and install our locker room doors. The company we paid disappeared into thin air with the large amount we paid them. We even got the SAPS involved to help us resolve the matter as soon as possible,” said Otis.
The Alberton Record will regularly visit the fitness centre to ensure that everything discussed with the management is resolved.
