Little bits of news
Well, I fulfilled my weekly bruise quotient at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu last night. My forearms and biceps look like I've been lightly zapped with several paintballs. I think I could convincingly pass for someone in an abusive relationship. I grappled 4 times last night (which left me utterly finished), and I managed to get in one really good armbar submission from mount.
Anyway, in very disappointing news for Durbanites, the Skyybar shooting has resulted in at least 2 really great restaurants and clubs closing down - Taco Zulu, and Burn. So now Durban's alternative music fans have absolutely nowhere to go... and I was so looking forward to the annual Halloween bash.
Anyway, Burn representatives explained the situation very eloquently on the Durban Alternative forum:
Burn was given notice today that due to the media frenzy regarding the Skyybar Shooting and the problems regarding One44 a committee consisting of City Police, Health, Durban Licensing, Fire, Municipality and SAP was established.
Their decision was to do a blanket raid on all nightclubs and restaurants in Durban operating without the proper permits.
According to the law businesses are not allowed to trade without licences however due to the massive delays and administration problems it has become generally accepted that a business can trade while the application is in process as long as the venue has a temporary liquor licence. Burn has a temporary liquor licence. Every department knew that we did not have our trading licence and none of them have had a problem with it until the last weeks series of events.
Burn made an application to get its Business licence in May 2006 and we applied for our liquor licence in March 2006. Their motivation is that according to the business act we are supposed to cease trading until our licences come through. This is not a possibility for businesses as we have huge overheads with amongst others rent and basic costs that we cannot carry on being closed indefinitely until they decide to issue a licence. In some cases it can take over a year and a half to issue a licence. This especially becomes a problem when you are hoping to trade as a going concern like Burn where you wish to maintain your customers you just wish to move to a new location.
It is not possible for a business to open, sign long term leases and invest a considerable amount of money in remodelling only to have to wait for a year and half until the relevant departments eventually get through the paperwork.
Businesses are not given a checklist or written instruction on what needs to be complied with instead it becomes a constant back and forth arrangement where one bit of info is given then you comply and then await the next requirement. This procedure often lends itself to corruption where you are approached to pay bribes to make the process go faster. Burn will never comply with this and we will never pay bribes for people to do what they should be doing in the first place.
I was informed today by the SAPS Captain Swart that they will be raiding the clubs this weekend and that I would be arrested if I was found to be trading. Needless to say we have decided to close our doors as it could take another year before we are eventually given a licence.
With this we are sorry to announce that Burn will be open tonight for the last time. Entry will be a staggering R30 as we wish to recover some funds to pursue this matter further. We have also taking this to the press. In the event that something miraculous happens in the next week and the powers that be make alternative arrangements we are hoping to reopen but as it stands at the moment the future of Durban’s entertainment industry looks like it is dead and buried.
The only little spark of hope is that Panama Room has apparently offered to let Burn use its premises for Wednesday night events until the situation has been resolved. But really, the only club I can tolerate is now gone...
Anyway, in very disappointing news for Durbanites, the Skyybar shooting has resulted in at least 2 really great restaurants and clubs closing down - Taco Zulu, and Burn. So now Durban's alternative music fans have absolutely nowhere to go... and I was so looking forward to the annual Halloween bash.
Anyway, Burn representatives explained the situation very eloquently on the Durban Alternative forum:
Burn was given notice today that due to the media frenzy regarding the Skyybar Shooting and the problems regarding One44 a committee consisting of City Police, Health, Durban Licensing, Fire, Municipality and SAP was established.
Their decision was to do a blanket raid on all nightclubs and restaurants in Durban operating without the proper permits.
According to the law businesses are not allowed to trade without licences however due to the massive delays and administration problems it has become generally accepted that a business can trade while the application is in process as long as the venue has a temporary liquor licence. Burn has a temporary liquor licence. Every department knew that we did not have our trading licence and none of them have had a problem with it until the last weeks series of events.
Burn made an application to get its Business licence in May 2006 and we applied for our liquor licence in March 2006. Their motivation is that according to the business act we are supposed to cease trading until our licences come through. This is not a possibility for businesses as we have huge overheads with amongst others rent and basic costs that we cannot carry on being closed indefinitely until they decide to issue a licence. In some cases it can take over a year and a half to issue a licence. This especially becomes a problem when you are hoping to trade as a going concern like Burn where you wish to maintain your customers you just wish to move to a new location.
It is not possible for a business to open, sign long term leases and invest a considerable amount of money in remodelling only to have to wait for a year and half until the relevant departments eventually get through the paperwork.
Businesses are not given a checklist or written instruction on what needs to be complied with instead it becomes a constant back and forth arrangement where one bit of info is given then you comply and then await the next requirement. This procedure often lends itself to corruption where you are approached to pay bribes to make the process go faster. Burn will never comply with this and we will never pay bribes for people to do what they should be doing in the first place.
I was informed today by the SAPS Captain Swart that they will be raiding the clubs this weekend and that I would be arrested if I was found to be trading. Needless to say we have decided to close our doors as it could take another year before we are eventually given a licence.
With this we are sorry to announce that Burn will be open tonight for the last time. Entry will be a staggering R30 as we wish to recover some funds to pursue this matter further. We have also taking this to the press. In the event that something miraculous happens in the next week and the powers that be make alternative arrangements we are hoping to reopen but as it stands at the moment the future of Durban’s entertainment industry looks like it is dead and buried.
The only little spark of hope is that Panama Room has apparently offered to let Burn use its premises for Wednesday night events until the situation has been resolved. But really, the only club I can tolerate is now gone...
Comments
I myself have never been to Burn, so luckily I won't know what I'm missing!
If you wanted to pitch up there in jeans and takkies, you could.
And the small size meant more intimacy, as well as a familiarity with regulars.
And the music was always awesome.
I just can't stomach places like Tiger Tiger anymore because they are so image focused - everyone is checking everyone else out like it's a frikken meat market. And the dance floor is claustrophobically crammed. Yech!
So I guess my clubbing days are completely over with until this is resolved.
I'm always curious as to why international tourists come here when Cape Town and Johannesburg seem to be much more high profile / better advertised destinations for international tourists.