Wits University unveiled the R300m Wits Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex, a world-class facility designed to advance sport, health, exercise medicine, research, and athlete development in Johannesburg and beyond.

The complex was officially launched during a VIP sneak-preview event attended by international donors and invited guests. Situated on the Wits education campus in Parktown, next to the Linder Auditorium, the facility will open to athletes, patients, and the public in September.

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Developed as part of Wits University’s centenary projects, the integrated centre brings together training, clinical practice, teaching, and research under one roof. It is the result of significant support from the Zylstra family and the Skye Foundation, whose contribution represents one of the largest family donations in the university’s history.

Wits vice-chancellor and principal professor Zeblon Vilakazi described the project as the beginning of a new era for sport at the university, while honouring alumni Brian and Dorothy Zylstra through the naming of the complex.

The facility includes specialised sports and exercise medicine laboratories, consulting rooms, research hubs, and a high-performance training gym that will cater for Wits athletes as well as national and international teams. It also houses a centre of excellence focused on cardio-metabolic exercise rehabilitation for patients with conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

A major feature is its new aquatics centre, which includes a covered and heated 50m training pool, hydrotherapy facilities, hot and cold pools, steam and sauna rooms, and South Africa’s only flume pool.

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The complex also provides disability sport programmes, radiology and X-ray facilities, a DEXA scanner, a World Anti-Doping Association facility, and AI-powered data integration systems developed in partnership with Technogym.

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In addition to supporting elite sport, the centre will offer postgraduate academic programmes and expanded scholarship opportunities for student-athletes.

Monthly membership packages are being developed for students, staff, alumni, schools, and national teams, with discussions underway to facilitate referrals through medical aid providers.

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