What began as a simple content exchange has evolved into one of East London’s most talked-about youth fitness movements.
At the heart of it is Body Tone Gym in Southernwood, where owner Sphamandla Mhlanga saw an opportunity not just to grow his business, but to build a movement.
“It all started when I met two young guys from a media company who had joined the gym,” Mhlanga said.
“I proposed that they create content in exchange for a free membership.
“As time went by, they came back with an idea to form a content crew that would represent the gym and attract the youth.”
That idea became the Super Squad, a six-member team, blending fitness, creativity and influence.
According to Mhlanga, the impact was almost immediate.
“More young people are coming to the gym, even from other gyms in East London, because of the social media influence,” he said.
But beyond numbers, he believes something deeper has been created.
“We’ve built a culture. The gym is no longer just a place to work out, it’s a space to create, build relationships and grow,” he said, adding that the team has already begun producing adverts and digital content that resonate with young audiences.
For the squad, this is more than fitness, it’s identity, Super Squad member Leeroy Mbire said.
“Being part of the Super Squad means committing ourselves to something bigger than we are individually,” Mbire said.
“We’re not just a crew; we’re a fitness movement representing our vision for the community.”
Each member brings a unique strength:
Bombethu Gadudu, known as “Bomb”, focuses on muscle building and bulking advice, Lisakhanya Makambi brings experience and specialises in lean aesthetics, Tami Sizani adds athleticism shaped by his rugby background, Delron Kekana inspires consistency and pushing limits and Shelah Qabaka helps drive the creative vision alongside Mbire.
The idea, Mbire says, had been building for some time.
“We always had a vision to create a gym crew of content creators,” Mbire said.
“It started with one unplanned session, shooting content, and grew into something bigger.”
Their content focuses on real, relatable journeys, sharing workouts, transformations and motivation that young people can connect with.
“We want people to see themselves in us,” Mbire said.
Despite their growing popularity, the group has faced unexpected challenges.
“Our biggest challenge is the image people sometimes have of us,” Makambi.
“Because of our look and training style, some people see us as fighters or ‘protectors’. But we’re actually against conflict; we want to be known as peace-makers.”
Instead, he said their focus remains on uplifting others.
“We train young people, guide them and encourage them every step of the way,” he said. “There’s no perfect time to start, just start now.”
A key part of the gym’s growth has been its partnership with SSA Supplements, whose products are sold exclusively at the gym.
“Body Tone Gym is one of our supply points and helps promote our products,” the brand said in a statement sent to the Go!
“We aim to support young people by giving them quality supplements that boost their fitness progress.”
The company also recommended creatine monohydrate to people who wanted to boost their energy levels — for its ability to improve strength, muscle hydration and even mental performance.
The brand emphasised that education is equally important.
“We provide user guidelines on how to safely and effectively use supplements,” they said.
For Mhlanga, the Super Squad represents something far greater than fitness trends.
“My vision is to create an environment where young people can grow and stay away from negative influences like drugs and alcohol,” he said.
“We want them to stay consistent in things that build their future.”
