uMhlanga ‘strip club’ owner in hot water
Business Licensing Department of the municipality fine and issued a contravention notice to local 'strip club'.
ALLEGATIONS have surfaced, saying the Diamond Grill & Lounge on Lagoon Drive in uMhlanga has been operating as a strip club. In June last year Northglen News ran an exclusive interview with the owner, of the Durban Teazers Strip Club and the man behind Gordon’s Pub revamp, Shaun Russouw.
At the time the 47-year-old neither confirmed nor denied whether he will be opening a strip club in the village. However, the newspaper has been contacted by residents who claim they had seen girls allegedly stripping at the venue.
What’s more, residents have also become suspicious of the increase in traffic to the Diamond Grill & Lounge at night. Residents have voiced their discontent with ward councillor Heinz de Boer.
Last Sunday the Business Licensing Department of the municipality fined and issued a contravention notice to the Prestondale resident, saying he did not have permission to run the venue as a strip club, de Boer said.
When the newspaper approached Russouw for comment, he arranged a meeting. However, when our journalist arrived, Russouw was not at the venue as agreed over the phone.
“I can say without a doubt that Diamond Grill does not have either town planning approval or a business license to operate what is known as an ‘adult premises’, or a strip club. The fact that the city has and continues to license adult premises in other more appropriate areas, like central Durban, or semi-industrial areas, speaks to the fact that there are places for such establishments. But it won’t be allowed in central uMhlanga,” said De Boer.
He added several residents’ reports had gotten back to him that they have visited the place and had seen ‘naked ladies dancing’ there.
“Much hard work by various people and organisations, including the city, has gone into putting uMhlanga on the map as a premier holiday destination. Central uMhlanga, and particularly Lagoon Drive, has always been a family-orientated holiday destination, with predominantly time share and residential accommodation being available.
“This issue has everything to do with the premises and not the owners. There is no vendetta or campaign to victimise the owners. I simply don’t care who owns the establishment.
“Anyone who operates an ‘adult establishment’ in uMhlanga without any permission to the aggravation of the community should expect raids and prosecution from various law enforcement agencies. The raids will not stop,” De Boer concluded.
