Covid-19 ignited young man’s involvement in community

A young man from Windmill Park who lost his job last year as a result of lockdown has opened a gym to keep himself and other unemployed young people in the area “sane”, as a measure to avoid feeling stressed.

Timothy Xaba (31), who runs his gym at a local church called Holy Ghost Fire Ministry, said after losing his job his world turned upside down, and what made things worse was that he was the breadwinner.

“Not being able to receive an income every month drove me crazy, to a point I was admitted to hospital for depression. As men, our dignity comes from taking care of our families. So when we can’t provide, our egos get crushed.”

Xaba, who is a professional mechanic, said the other day his friend suggested the gym idea to him, which he then started with a few of his friends.

“Because I’ve always been a gym fanatic, it was easy for me to settle into the idea of training other people and getting them healthy and fit just as I am. When I started, we only had three people, but as time went on, I started seeing more young people coming to the gym through word of mouth. I don’t charge them anything but a few of my friends who are working assist me with the little they have.”

The 31-year-old said the gym served as a safe space for young people in the area to not get involved in criminal activities or falling pregnant.

“Instead of them roaming the streets and doing nothing, this place keeps them busy and proactive. By the time they leave the gym, they are tired and just go home and sleep, which saves them from a lot of things.”

Xaba said he hopes to expand the gym to cater for elderly people but due to his limited resources, he can’t.
“The few gym tools I have are for weight lifting, designed especially for young people. If I could get treadmills and other light gym equipment, it’ll be better.”

He encouraged young people who are unemployed to not sit at home and do nothing but to seek alternative hobbies to keep themselves motivated and positive during these trying times.

Anyone interested in contributing to the sustainability of the community gym and its activities can contact Xaba on 065 957 6220.

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