Wits prepares to launch R100m Zylstra Sports Complex
- Daniella Bella Ripamonti
- May 17
- 2 min read
Wits University’s Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex is entering its final construction phase, promising a science-backed revolution in campus wellness and human movement.
The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to launch on 30 May on the Wits Education Campus.
The hub uses smart gym equipment and a shared data system to help experts customise student health plans.
Provides significant internship opportunities for Health Sciences and a reduced fee structure for the student body.
The smell of fresh paint hangs heavy over the Parktown Education Campus as the roar of power drills signals the final countdown. This is the new Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex, a R100-million landmark designed to transform the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) into a hub for “human movement”.
Set for an official launch on May 30, 2026, the complex is rooted in the “Learning to Move” philosophy, viewing physical activity as essential to mental and physical longevity.
While Wits is often under financial pressure regarding infrastructure funding, Chief Operating Officer Professor Georgia Torres clarified that the Zylstra family provided the full amount. “It was funding money... it wasn't the university,” Torres said, adding that the impact will be felt most in sports and exercise medicine.
The facility features some of the most advanced technology in Johannesburg, including Technogym and ‘BioDrive.’ This AI-integrated system allows for fine-tuning muscle contractions from explosive power to static holds. Crucially, all equipment is linked to a central database.
“That allows an interdisciplinary team to look at it,” Torres explained. Whether a student is an elite athlete or recovering from an injury, physicians, biokineticists, and physios can work together using evidence-based data, to monitor workloads and recovery.
Beyond fitness, the complex is a vital academic hub, offering “huge” job opportunities and work-integrated learning for Faculty of Health Sciences students. “Every year Wits sport pull in an employee,” Torres said, highlighting the internal pipeline for physiotherapists and biokineticists.
Torres confirmed affordable, layered membership fees will be available for students. While she emphasised that “internals (Witsies) are very important” and will never be turned away, the space - which can hold 3,000 people at a time - is also open to the public.
For Torres, the complex is ultimately a mental health hub. Through a mobile app, the wellness journey extends beyond Parktown. “They don't necessarily have to come and train here... they connect to us to get education, expertise, and knowledge,” she said.
As the drills go quiet and the doors open this month, Wits isn't just opening a gym, it's launching a new era of student wellbeing.
FEATURED IMAGE: Professor Georgia Torres, Head of Department of Exercise Science and Sport Medicine (ESSM) at Wits University. Photo: Zylstra Sports Complex
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