NUDE BAR CHARGES DROPPED
Charges against 14 men who were arrested at Pretoria’s Camp David nude bar have been withdrawn by the state. Among those who were charged with public indecency when the club was raided in November last year was the owner, Dannie Haarman.
The state withdrew the charges on Thursday morning because of lack of evidence after its witnesses failed to appear in court. The move comes as a conclusion to a long-running dispute between Camp David and the authorities.
“I’m quite relieved. But I’m wondering what will happen next – and if they [the police] will retaliate,” says Haarman about the charges being withdrawn.
While police claim that Camp David is a public venue, Haarman insists that it is a private club open to paying members only: “They had to smash down closed doors to get in.” He says that a plethora of other charges against him including running a brothel, obstructing a fire entrance, and not having a liquor license have all been dropped or won in court.
“We are not a brothel. No money is exchanged for sex – it’s a nude bar,” says Haarman, who adds that he is particularly upset over today’s reporting on the case by the press. He is angry that some newspapers, including the Pretoria News, published photographs and the full names of the men who appeared in court yesterday.
“The press have publicly ‘outed‘ their sexual orientation, and they haven’t even been asked to plead or been found guilty of anything. One of them has two kids in school,” says Haarman.
In late November last year, the Pretoria High Court blocked newspapers from publishing pictures taken by the press of the nude men who were arrested at the raid on the club. Pretoria police routinely invite the media to participate in raids on clubs and bars.
Haarman has repeatedly claimed that the venue has been targeted by police because it is a gay establishment, adding that three raids over the span of two months in 2006 have negatively affected his business.
In February, an urgent application to have the raids on Camp David declared unlawful, failed. Haarman says that he is appealing the judgment, accusing the judge of being homophobic: “He said that sex between two men is immoral and illegal. How can a judge not know the laws of the country?”
Haarman adds that, “My advocate is very confident that we will win and, once we do, I will sue the police.”
Police have denied the claims of homophobia saying that they raided Camp David to check for contraventions of its liquor license. Pornographic material and “powder and pills” were also confiscated in the November raid, although no charges have come of this.
So will Haarman continue to operate Camp David? “Yes, of course”, he replies, “they are not going to stop me.”
sad… Sadly for the owners, I have no intention of visiting a venue embroiled in such nonsense with police who are supposedly rumoured to have other agendas..
I couldn’t care less who knows about my sexual orientation, but I certainly have no wish to spend a night in police cells on trumped up charges until all this nonsense has been sorted out.
There is much talk that the raids have been motivated by more than just routine anti crime investigations, and the episode makes one wonder why the police haven’t been held more accountable for their actions.
Strange that the Adult Worlds and the Factory haven’t been targeted under similar charges. At some adult worlds, peopple are able to shove their willys through holes and this with police knowledge.. For that matter, what difference is there betrween Teazers (who admittedly have also had their fare share of nonsense) where nude women entice patrons?
Perhaps it’s time that some stringent action is taken?
Something is rotten somewhere…
Owner – CAMP DAVID. I would like to inform Puyi that Factory also had their share of raids some time ago which went hardly unnoticed because the police did not invite the media to attend. You are correct in saying you smell a rat, because the raids on Camp David took place after a frustrated queen reported us to a certain inspector at Brooklyn Police station. The media were invited along thus resulting in the wide coverage in the media because of the sensation involved. Our fundamental rights have been clearly infringed upon and therefore I took the matter to the supreme court and will continue to fight for the gay rights in this country where it seems that despite the current democratic state of South Africa and its constitution it appears that there is still ground for prejudice as shown by remarks made by the police during the raid on CAMP DAVID and the events that followed. A detailed report on the court cases and the legal action taken will be published in the May issue of Exit. I have received tremendous support from the gay community and CAMP DAVID is busier that ever – people support me in order to fight this prejudice behaviour against gays.
Good luck, but…. I am delighted to read of your determination.
I was aware of the Factory raid – ostensibly because of a liquor licence infringement – but it seems Camp David has been targeted by police more than once now – media or no media. All because of a ‘frustrated queen’?
At a gay dinner party last night, the Camp David situation was discussed and sadly, although the people present were happy to hear the case had been ‘thrown out’, all of them (10 people) were reluctant to visit or return until some definite action with positive results for YOU, and an indication of protection for your patroins, has actually taken place.
I sincerely hope you are able to take legal action against the police, but also that in the Exit, you detail exactly what happened, from start to finish. There are many rumours about the whole mess, ranging from your version about a frustrated queen (??) to stories about a homophobic restaurant next door, wanting your property.
People are looking forward to your clarification.
Perhaps you could indicate under what circumstances people may attend your venue, from a legal point of view, in order to set minds at rest. I am sure that this type of reassurance would help.
Good luck as you continue your struggle!
Camp David. It is true that the owner of the coffee shop next door told people that he wanted my premises. We have been raided three times, initiated and performed by the same police inspector who is a friend of the guy next door. Camp David a licenced premises and the guy next door never realised that should for some unlikely reason I could no longer continue with what I am doing, I would simply turn it into a straight (or gay) restaurant or something!
Concerning the future of Camp David – my lawyers have studied the law and our membership system has been improved in order to protect our members. The only reason for police to raid us is drugs. I do not allow drugs and therefore I believe the police will not bother us again. The guy next door could not succeed with his coffee shop and new people (who have been warned about Camp David by the landlord and myself) beforehand, took over last month. I am in the process of upgrading the premises (improvements which also were delayed since last year because of this shit).It is perfectly safe to enjoy yourself at Camp David and those individuals avoiding us, sadly to say, are just missing out on the fun.
Camp David. Three raids took place, all three initiated and done by the same police inspector who is a friend from the coffee shop owner next door. Indeed he told people he wanted our premises – but it never occured to him that my premises is a legally licenced premises and should for some reason I could not cater for gays longer I would simply turn it into a straight (or gay) restaurant or something!He is no longer involved next door anyway. He could not succeed in making a success of the shop and somebody else took over last month. This person has been warned by the landlord and myself about Camp David beforehand in order to prevent any more trouble in future.
Concerning the situation at Camp David you will notice that even the media now report on Camp David as a “private club”. My lawyers has studied the law and our membership system has been improved in order to be within the law and to protect members of Camp David. The only reason now left for police to bother us, is drugs. I do not allow drugs and therefore I believe they will not bother us again. It is perfectly safe to enjoy yourself at Camp David. I am in the process of upgrading the premises and individuals who
scared stil… I really enjoyed times at Camp David. It sure was a fuun place. I say was because i`m really to scared to go back. It really is a shame. We have no gaurantee that the police would leave the place alone.
Good luck with everything
Also scared. I have visited CD a few times, last week was the last time I’ve been there! I am shit scared everytime the doorbell rings, because you don’t know if its the police or what. I am very reluctant to go back and enjoy the venue – who wants to be made public of your sexual prefrences…. if your still in the closet!
Police . Marra, if you have been to CD last week surely you signed the membership form. People seems to forget that the police raided CD for drugs, being naked is not against the law and the charges of public indecency were withdrawn before the guys even pleaded, the reason being CD now being aknowledged as a PRIVATE VENUE FOR GAY MEN ONLY by the police and the prosecutor. The night of the raid the police could not find anything else to arrest people for and therefore abused their powers which is exactly what the sivil case is about. (read more in Exit this month) The membership form protects you against the police unless you deal or have drugs in your posession in wich case you are not welcome there anyway.
Raids by police. Marra and PTA guy, no club can guarantee that they will not be raided. Factory was raided, same happened to 84 and even two weeks ago the Pink Flamingo, a straight version of Camp David was raided, and what about the shit that Teazers has and still is going through? If you don’t want to vist Camp David out of fear for being arrested you cannot visit any club, straight or gay. If you do’nt have something to hide you do not need to fear the police.