T-shirt gets Virgin Active member thrown out

[caption id="attachment_95924" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The t-shirt Muhammed Desai was wearing. Picture: Twitter[/caption]

In a video posted onto YouTube yesterday, Virgin Active member, Muhammed Desai, explains how he was asked to leave the Old Edwardians gym in Houghton - Johannesburg because of the t-shirt he was wearing.

Desai then also took to Twitter and stated that the "the Chris Hani tshirt I was wearing & led to police being called by to remove me from the gym."

The Chris Hani tshirt I was wearing & led to police being called by to remove me from the gym

— Muhammed Desai (@MuhammedDesai)

In response to the matter Virgin Active today tweeted "We hear you. We’re aware of the serious situation at Old Eds, are investigating and will you keep you updated."

In the video Desai says that as a paid member of the gym he should be allowed to access the gym.

However the gym manager responds and says they fear for Desai's safety.

Another gym member, Howard page, suggests that Desai should rather go home as he would prefer that no member wears "politicized t-shirts, on sensitive subjects at the gym."

Just after noon today, Virgin Active responded with an , where it was said that "this is a situation we have never encountered before and we have learned valuable lessons.

We need to make it clear that no legal item of clothing is banned from Virgin Active clubs but we would hope that members would understand the need for both tolerance and respect in this space.

We do not believe our clubs should be forums for contentious political activity. Mr Desai has not been banned and is welcome to return to train as a member as long as he respects the conditions of membership."

-Deneesha Pillay