Francois Kotze has been at the helm of Maties Gymnasium since October 2012 and – when you talk to his peers – the reason why this gym can compete with the best in the country. He is also the person who ensures that only the best state-of-the-art equipment is used at the gym.

For Francois, being fit is part of who he is, and he has always loved sport and exercising. “You only have one health, so it is best to look after it.”

Talking to Francois, you soon realised how passionate he is about Maties Gymnasium. “Maties Gym caters for everyone – from the beginner to the elite athlete. The gym covers a big space and has many training areas to cater to members’ different needs.”

He says the best part of working at Maties Gym is (apart from free gym membership) is the opportunity it provides you for professional growth, being part of a renowned academic institution. “Here at Maties Gym, you meet people from different walks of life, and as we know, people influence your life in many ways.”

Jacques Pretorius joined Maties Gymnasium in June 2020, and his job is making sure the Gym’s financial affairs is also healthy.

For Jacques, being fit is part of having a healthy balanced lifestyle. “There’s no need to give up on things that may be considered “bad habits”. It’s perfectly possible to balance healthy living with eating ice cream or enjoying some wine with dinner,” says he.

Jacques believes you will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret to success is found in your daily routine.

If he were to market the Gym to his friends, he would highlight the wide variety of offerings catering to whatever a person’s fitness goals might be. “The friendly atmosphere makes everyone feel right at home and ready to start a great workout,” Jacques says.

The best part of working at Maties Gym for Jacques is the energy and positive work environment. “There is no workplace drama or grumpy co-workers at Maties Gym.”

She regularly keeps fit so that she can keep up with her little one and wants to be a good example for him by showing him that it's important to make exercise fun and part of your daily lifestyle.

To get others moving and active she recommends that they just commit to doing something, even if it's 20min a day. Anelles biggest recommendation if find something you enjoy, rather than forcing yourself to do something that uncomfortable.

She would recommend that you join Maties gymnasium as it has something for everyone a variety of classes, a high-performance center, and friendly and skilled staff that will keep you coming back for more.

He is not afraid of pushing himself out of his comfort zone and says: “if you only do what you can do, you will never be more than what you are”.

Mornay says to do any project; you need the right tools. “I feel that is what Maties Gymnasium gives you. We cater for everyone no matter where you are with your project of sculpting a better you.”

For him, the best part of his day is interacting with so many different members, seeing their progress in their training and learning from them and his colleagues.

For the past nine years, Elizabeth Petersen (or Lizzy as most people know her) makes sure Maties Gym is a healthy and hygienic space to train. She believes that Maties Gym is by far the cleanest gym in the country.

For her being fit is good for your mental and your physical health. Apart from being fit and ensuring the gym is clean, she loves the opportunity to interact with members in the gym.

Nano Fredericks only recently joined Maties Gymnasium with the huge task to make sure all the equipment is in perfect working order.

Nano believe it is very important for him to keep fit, because its improves his  health and decreases the risk of getting heart disease. 

“I always tell people that training has a lot of benefits. It improves brain health  and memory, builds self-confidence and increases your energy levels. It also helps to relieve stress.” 

Nano says Maties Gymnasium offers cost effective gym membership fees and caters for everyone. “It is a fun and positive working environment that makes my work enjoyable.”