Can't cancel contract without paying a fee

I was at the Maponya Mall and there was sale representatives from the gym company, one guy approached me and told me that they have a special of a few months free membership. I told him that I'm not interested in joining the gym he then told me that I can try it out and if I don't like it then I know I've tried it and it will be the end of it. So I thought okay I can sign up and see. I didn't even go to any of the gyms not once ( he said I could sign up at the gym closest to where i stay but upon looking at the contract again he had signed me up for national membership). I called not more than 2 weeks after signing the stupid contract (he signed me up for 3 years so much for try it out) and was told that the cooling period had ended therefore I had to pay R1500 and put in writing that I'm resigning from the gym. I went to Maponya Mall to cancel and they said I can only cancel if I pay the fee upfront what a bunch of *******. Gym Company is a pyramid scheme they told me alternatively I can get someone to take over my membership and I just pay R500. They have not fulfilled any obligation as I have not used their premises so why must I pay.