Maties Gym reopened 22 August after shutting down for five months due to the nationwide lockdown. PHOTO: Callan Riddles
After an approximated loss in revenue of R10 million over the lockdown period, the Maties Gym in Stellenbosch reopened on 22 August.
The loss in revenue was due to the freezing of membership fees, which was implemented during the lockdown, as well as the loss of the potential membership sales, said Francois Kotze, consultant at the gym.
“Because we weren’t open, we weren’t able to sell to the public,” said Carl Wagner, acting general manager at Maties Gym.
Since reopening, the gym has begun to build momentum despite the financial hit, Wagner said. The gym has since been steadily drawing members back to its facilities, he said.
“It was a slowish start but it’s accelerating now. [The] average number of people in the gym is increasing week-on-week,” said Wagner.
Separate entrances and exits, as well as screenings at the door, are part of the regulations implemented at the gym. PHOTO: Callan Riddles
Revenue stopped, but expenses did not
According to Kotze, the gym has also needed to manage costs.
“We’ve got operating expenses [like] equipment leases and staff salaries to pay,” said Kotze, who added that a bit of money was saved on operating costs whilst the gym was closed.
He confirmed that the gym had been fortunate enough to retain all their staff on full salaries during the lockdown period.
“Lockdown brought a lot of change,” said Maties Gym employee, Nceba Coki.
Coki was grateful that he was able to maintain his job during lockdown but said that coming back to all the precautions was a big adjustment.
As a precaution, equipment in poorly ventilated areas of the gym has been put out of use. PHOTO: Callan Riddles
Taking precautions
According to Wagner, the Covid-19 precautions implemented in the gym include pre-screenings, separate entrance and exit points, clear demarcations on the floors to promote social distancing, and keeping the facility well-ventilated.
There is also ample social distancing and sanitising signage, as well as multiple sanitising stations in each section of the gym, Wagner said.
“From a social distancing perspective, we’ve needed to keep members two meters apart, particularly in the cardiovascular training department where [members] train vigorously,” said Wagner. The gym put every other machine out of order to allow for this.
Every second machine in the cardiovascular training area has been put out of use to promote social distancing. PHOTO: Callan Riddles
He said that they always limit the number of people within the gym and they close down for one-hour intervals three times per day to sanitise the facility.
“I’m relieved to be back,” said Fallon Matthews, a gym member. She said that she feels very safe when attending the gym.
“We sanitise before and after we use something and then they have people that go around and sanitise everything as well. So, it’s very reassuring,” she said.
