13 Dec 2015

Assistant Minister of Health, Dr Alfred Madigele, has officially launched Virgin Active Gaborone Health Club, a first world class health club worth P80 million in Botswana.

Officially launching the state of the art health club at Airport Junction mall on Saturday (December 12), Dr Madigele applauded Virgin Active for showing confidence in the local economy by bringing a well-known and respected global brand to Gaborone.

He indicated that some one of the challenges the ministry was faced with and set to resolve was that Batswana generally did not live healthy lives.

“The issue may not be mainly due to lifestyle rather than a choice.  Though we do not all drive to work, many Batswana may not get that opportunity to do some work due to their busy schedules. This inspired us to establish a simple exercise habit championed by our ministry called walk for health,” he said.

He also said looking at the open and modern design of a health club was a refreshing sight, noting the possibilities that came with it. 

He said the initial membership taken up before the club could open its doors demonstrated that there was a huge enthusiasm for Batswana to live healthy lives.

The assistant minister further expressed gratitude at the opening of the facility, saying that was a significant step by Virgin Active in its growth into the rest of the continent from a well-established base in South Africa and Namibia. 

Virgin Active health club’s managing director, Ross Faragher-Thomas was also thrilled to have a world class health club in Botswana, adding it was the first step out of the South African market and Namibia where the Virgin Active had a strong hold base.  

Faragher-Thomas said the facility housed world class training equipment that is used by well-established health clubs around the world.

“We chose Botswana because it has investment friendly environment and have a focus on health and we feel strongly this will be a country Virgin Active will be proud of,” he said.

Faragher-Thomas explained that the club was designed and developed uniquely around the local format.

That, he said was because they did not want to bring a South African version, hence the unique design to suit the Botswana market.

He also said the club creation had shown positive response from the market, stating that they were surprised by the demand in which people applied for the membership even before the club was opened.

“In a move to contribute to employment and economy, we have hired up to 57 local employees and brought just one manager from South Africa to come and train Batswana. 

But the managerial position will later be filled by a local,” he said. 

Further, he said they intended to grow the brand in the African market, hence a branch in Botswana and the next in Kenya soon.

Meanwhile, the two-storey health club encompasses a heated swimming pool with four lines which stretch to 25 metres and 1.2 metres deep as well as a lucrative restaurant. On the second floor, there are hallways which house different world class training equipment. Ends