2.5k to cancel yet got R5k for nothing

I took out a membership for me and my then fiance 14 months ago, a month after having the membership we relocated to North West Province, unfortunately there is no Zone fitness here. Every month i pay the amount due even though i do not make use of the service. I haven't used the membership in over a year, but it gets paid every month. When i enquired to cancel, informing then about my circumstances they still want to charge me R2.5k to cancel. They are well within their right to ask that as its been made clear that i signed a contract. But seriously! No customer service, no empathy nothing, This last year a paid R5k and didn't set a foot in your gym, not by choice! And u still want me to pay R2.5k to cancel. Seriously! But like u made it clear. I signed a contract