WATCH: Gym industry demands to reopen
They have opted to rent out gym equipment to their members and have also started to manufacture and sell gym equipment.
Just a week after the restaurant industry took to the streets in a silent protest, gym companies across the country also joined in on August 5.
Sports and Fitness Club Alberton was among many that embarked on a silent protest against what they described as difficult Covid-19 regulations.
This comes after the government implemented regulations with an aim to curb the pandemic in the beginning of lockdown. However, these regulations forced gyms to temporally close, seeing many jobs being lost.
Staff and owners of the Sports and Fitness Club went out in solidarity and marched into the Alberton CBD to vent their frustrations.
According to Clive de Vos, Sports and Fitness Club Alberton owner, the protest served to bring awareness of their struggle as a gym.
“We understand there is reason for the lockdown. However, the gym has more control than any shopping centre. We have an online booking system that allows people to book,” he said.
Due to these regulations, most of their clients have not been able to keep up with payments. He emphasised that fitness centres should open again as operating gyms, not only to save people’s livelihoods but to maintain their health too.
He said: “It’s a proven fact that people who train are fitter, healthier and their immune systems are better. This means their breathing and lung capacity are better. If people are not working out, they’re likely to get sick.”
They have opted to rent out gym equipment to their members and have also started to manufacture and sell gym equipment.
WATCH: A video of the gym company taking their protest to the streets
Measures in place
De Vos said after the initial lockdown they had put some measures in place to accommodate the new norm.
“We’re going to limit our training sessions to 45 minutes. The gym will then close for 15 minutes while we will go in and sanitise. The equipment has also been spread out to put into sections that people are more than two metres apart.
“We also have a cleaning station for the dumbbells and other equipment,” he said.
He told the RECORD they lost about R8 000 from setting up the gym to be hygienically ready, only to realise they would not reopen again.
“Now we are going to do it again only when we know gyms are going to open. I feel we are prepared and almost all gyms countrywide are ready. It’s been five months without an income and everybody is falling behind,” said de Vos.
