WATCH: Krugersdorp protest in solidarity with the fitness industry
Some gyms and fitness centres in Krugersdorp took to the streets on 5 August to voice their concerns about lockdown regulations and the livelihood of their owners and employees.
The owners, employees and members of gyms in Krugersdorp embarked on the nationwide protest on Wednesday, 5 August in solidarity against what Fit SA calls an ‘irrational closure’ of gyms that does ‘not make sense at all’.
Some sectors of the economy have gradually been opened, but more than 130 days into the nationwide lockdown, gyms remain closed. The industry has followed the example of the restaurant and tourism industries by making itself heard.
Fit SA, which represents just over 750 independent gyms across South Africa, explained that the industry supports about 29 000 employees, who in turn have families to care for. This brings the number of people affected to about 116 000, according to Fit SA’s estimates.
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In Krugersdorp’s central business district, Mark van Biljon, Arnold Classic Africa winner and owner of New Dimensions Gym gathered his supporters and took to the sidewalk outside of his gym. They held up signs reading ‘Closed gym = job losses = poverty’, ‘Reopen our gym’, ‘#gymsaveslives’, ‘#healthyimmunitymind’, ‘#jobssaveslives’ and ‘We are all essential’.
In Noordheuwel, Shimoné Mostert from SLM Fitness and Donna Groothedde from Donna’s Health & Fitness came together with their members to do an active version of the protest in the service road along Voortrekker Road. Quite a few drivers honked their hooters as the drove past, while half of the group took turns to do a 30-minute workout on the sidewalk of the service road under the hot sun.
