MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Some posts on some local Facebook sites have been highly negative and critical about ATKV Hartenbos regarding Bonzo's restaurant, at Hartenbos Beach, having to move.
The Advertiser contacted Bonzo's owner Johan Claassen for comment.
He said it was "heartbreaking" to hear about the negativity. "It breaks my heart that people are doing this. We have a good relationship with the ATKV, which is important to us. We have had a supportive relationship with them. This is really not necessary."
Claassen said: "This little place [Bonzo's] is very loved. It has a loyal following."
Bonzo's was required by its landlord, Hartenbos ATKV, to move by the end of May, but was given a concession by the ATKV to move by the end of August.
The spot where Bonzo's is, is usually used as a concert stage by the ATKV. Bonzo's could occupy the spot during the pandemic because no concerts were held then because of lockdown rules, but now that concerts can be held again, the stage will be placed there again.
Claassen started a petition, which had been signed by 4 107 people by 14:26 on 12 July, asking that Bonzo's should not have to leave Hartenbos Beach.
The petition is at: www.change.org
'Speak well'
He points out: "In the petition, we speak well of the ATKV." Claassen says: "We will have to leave at the end of August. It is their [ATKV's] right to do this."
Claassen said people reacted passionately about Bonzo's having to move because his staff were extremely caring, especially towards elderly people at the restaurant and around the restaurant, and Bonzo's was an extremely special place which reached out to the community. In a way it had provided a haven for people during the pandemic, he said. He said it was the location of the restaurant, near the sea, which added to its popularity.
'Respect'
"I have nourished a relationship with the ATKV all the time. I don't associate with this bad stuff happening. I have respect for the landlord's rights."
He said he had offered the ATKV support for the concert stage and said if it needed anything from Bonzo's, he would help.
Claassen said he is looking for new premises, but it is hard to find something suitable. He said he wants to keep his nine staff on. "I am not going to drop these people."
On enquiry from the Advertiser today, 12 July, the ATKV resorts head office spokesperson Therien Taljaard said: "In terms of the comments on social media, we distance ourselves from them, especially the threats against ATKV Hartenbos.
"Regarding the contract with Bonzo's, the ATKV is assessing the potential for extending the contract. As soon as the management team has discussed the matter, it will provide feedback." Taljaard said the ATKV could not provide a timeframe for this at this stage.
On 9 July, the ATKV posted a full statement on its Facebook page regarding Bonzo's. Here is the full statement:
Beste ATKV Hartenbos-gas
Dit het onder ATKV-bestuur se aandag gekom dat daar ontenvredenheid heers oor ATKV-Hartenbos se besluit om nie die huurkontrak van Bonzo’s te hernu nie.
Ons terugvoer is as volg.
Gegewe die Covid-19 pandemie was ATKV-oorde ongelukkig in ‘n posisie geplaas waar die oorde noodgedwonge moes toemaak. Selfs ná die heropening van die oorde was die oorde deel van ‘n infasseringsperiode en is daar steeds beperkinge op verkope en handelsure by restaurante en drankwinkels geplaas, en kon geen aansit diens gelewer word nie, wat slegs wegneemetes tot gevolg gehad het.
Ons kan egter met ‘n baie dankbare hart sê dat die tyd na herstel van die ATKV-oorde tot op ‘n punt gekom het waar daar weer normaal besigheid gedryf kan word, en dat die ATKV-oorde soos voorheen funksioneer en bedryfsure aangepas is.
vermaakprogramme
Die Strandverhoog/ kiosk by ATKV-Hartenbos word nog altyd tydens langnaweke en skoolvakansies aangewend as die primêre area/ fasiliteit vir die aanbied van vermaakprogramme. Weens Covid-19 regulasies kon ATKV-oorde in 2021 nie volledige vermaakprogramme aanbied nie, en is ATKV-oorde nou in die posisie om weer volledige vermaakprogramme aan grooter groepe vakansiegangers aan te bied nou dat die rampbestuurwetgewing gelig is.
Die beplanning is dus om weer die Strandverhoog vir hierdie doel aan te wend en die kiosk as ondersteuning te gebruik vir die diens wat gelewer gaan word. Bonzo’s se huurkontrak het reeds ten einde gekom op 31 Oktober 2021 waarna dit verleng was na die skoolvakansieseisoen van 2021 tot en met einde Februarie 2022.
Die rede daarvoor was, omdat die genoemde Covid-19 regulasies gedurende daardie periode nie die ATKV toegelaat het om vermaak aan groot groepe aan te bied nie en dus Bonzo’s die voordeel gegun het om oor die seisoen tyd handel te dryf. Hierdie vergunning is egter verder verleng tot einde Augustus 2022 siende dat na Februarie 2022 die Covid-19 regulasies en beperkinge steeds in plek was.
Nou met die opheffing van die Covid-19 regulasies bied dit dus aan die Hartenbos Strandoord die geleentheid om weer vermaak aan te bied by die Strandverhoog en word geen verdere verlenging van die Bonzo’s ooreenkoms oorweeg nie.
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