Sexy dancers plead to be allowed to stay in SA

Nov 18, 2011 | NASHIRA DAVIDS

Mavericks, a "gentleman's revue bar", has asked the Cape High Court to help it hold on to its exotic dancers.

 

 Kim Kitty from Kim Kitty and the Kittens performs a trapeze act during Sexpo at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. Picture: JAMES OATWAY

The director-general of the Department of Home Affairs, Mkuseli Apleni, has cancelled Mavericks' corporate permits and certificates that allowed it to help bring exotic dancers to South Africa.

Yesterday, several stern-looking, manicured dancers filled the benches of Judge Siraj Desai's courtroom.

Mavericks' lawyer, Advocate Anton Katz SC, argued for an interdict against the department pending the outcome of a review of Apleni's October decision.

The department found Mavericks had displayed "blatant disregard" for the law, but Mavericks' owner Shane Harrison denied this in court papers.

He said he was told of the decision on October 21 and instructed that all foreign dancers he employed had to leave the country by November 4.

"The ability to procure sufficient numbers of foreign nationals who are qualified as exotic dancers is absolutely essential to [Mavericks'] business. Few exotic dancers translates directly into few customers, and consequently to a dramatic loss of income and inevitable financial collapse," he said.

For [Mavericks], the decision is catastrophic."

Three dancers, Diana Gorgos from Moldovia, Irina Yatsenko from Russia and Patrizia Meynet from Italy, also filed papers, pleading to stay in South Africa.

Yatsenko said she was getting married next month and has a 10-year-old daughter she believed would have a better education and opportunities in South Africa.

Meynet said she had bought a house and owed about R1-million for it.

But Apleni said Mavericks had flouted the rules and most of its dancers were "illegally employed".

Immigration officer Mzukisi Witbooi said he had found 12 foreigners working there illegally.

The matter was postponed to Monday.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2011/11/18/sexy-dancers-plead-to-be-allowed-to-stay-in-sa?service=print