Paying for Contract that lapsed 7 years ago due to travelling

Its funny that after 7 years. Virgin Active cant give me a membership cause they claim that in 2012 I had a membership that I canceled and I owe them. Yes I did cancel my contract. I informed my gym manager at Millpark, Johannesburg and called the head office countless times cause I was going abroad & yes I would have loved to continue with the contract & gym. But 1.I was going to a country that has no virgin active. 2. My bank account had to be closed where the hell were you going to debit?. All of this was stated in emails sent to my gym manager who promised to fw emails to accounts. To my surprise this yr Im back and I want to sign up for a new membership but Im told I owe ove R1000k. Im researching as we speak. If am I liable for a contract of five yrs and more that was cancelled due to unforseen circumstances before I left the country . What will ombudsmen say about this?? I would have simply sign up to an another brand but hell no Im doing this for other clients who might find themselves in ths situation in future or who are in it now and being forced to pay cause they dont know their right. I also posted this on fb a week ago. I was asked to inbox my details but till this date no one has called me. Except for a consultant that called me twice before I posted on fb who told me that I have to pay and when I explained to him.he promised to escalate the matter that was early November till this date I have not received any feedback.