IT WAS a bitter-sweet last hurray shindig at a teeming ZAR Lounge in Sandton on Saturday night when co-owner Kenny Kunene announced the closure of the popular nightspot.
The official reason for the closure of the ZAR Lounge is that the owners of the Radison Hotel - where the club has been renting for the past three years - wanted to use the space for their own business.
It was a bitter-sweet last function for Kunene, now self-dubbed DJ Sushi Mix, as in one breath he announced the closure of ZAR and that he was about to release a 23-track double album.
He also announced that his show on e.tv, So What, would continue for another season.
"ZAR has not closed down, no matter what anyone says," he said. "Don't believe the nonsense you read in the newspapers that the ZAR lounge is closing down.
"What's going to happen now is that ZAR is going to the people.
"It will go to all the provinces and townships and everywhere else where people who love quality entertainment can be found," Kunene said.
But sources in the Gauteng Liquor Inspectorate, which grants liquor licences, informed Sowetan that the ZAR Lounge was actually operating without a proper liquor licence.
When asked how he plans to run a "roving nightclub" that sells liquor without a proper licence, considering he would have to apply for licences all the time, Kunene responded: "We will abide by the law. If you respect the law you have nothing to fear and no one will stand in your way."
Kunene also blasted the media for "misrepresentation", using unprintable language.
"My TV show has been so successful that e.tv has now decided to air it on Mondays during prime time.
"The second season will now air on Mondays at half-past eight for the next three months.
"My show was never canned, contrary to what a lot of people out there said.
"e.tv is giving So What a second season. This just shows that my show has been very successful.
"I'm grateful to e.tv for giving me this opportunity," Kunene said.
So What returns to the small screen on March 19.
Kunene gave the media copies of two tracks from his soon-to-be-released double album.
He said his passion for music began in 1988 when he bought himself "deejaying equipment".
The ZAR Lounge opened on June 10 2010 and was one of Joburg's most successful and exclusive venues.
With convenient access to the Sandton Gautrain station, and across the road from Sandton City, the southern hemisphere's largest shopping centre, the venue gave an unimpeded view of both the Johannesburg and Sandton central business districts.
Bitter-sweet end for ZAR Sandton
IT WAS a bitter-sweet last hurray shindig at a teeming ZAR Lounge in Sandton on Saturday night when co-owner Kenny Kunene announced the closure of the popular nightspot.
The official reason for the closure of the ZAR Lounge is that the owners of the Radison Hotel - where the club has been renting for the past three years - wanted to use the space for their own business.
It was a bitter-sweet last function for Kunene, now self-dubbed DJ Sushi Mix, as in one breath he announced the closure of ZAR and that he was about to release a 23-track double album.
He also announced that his show on e.tv, So What, would continue for another season.
"ZAR has not closed down, no matter what anyone says," he said. "Don't believe the nonsense you read in the newspapers that the ZAR lounge is closing down.
"What's going to happen now is that ZAR is going to the people.
"It will go to all the provinces and townships and everywhere else where people who love quality entertainment can be found," Kunene said.
But sources in the Gauteng Liquor Inspectorate, which grants liquor licences, informed Sowetan that the ZAR Lounge was actually operating without a proper liquor licence.
When asked how he plans to run a "roving nightclub" that sells liquor without a proper licence, considering he would have to apply for licences all the time, Kunene responded: "We will abide by the law. If you respect the law you have nothing to fear and no one will stand in your way."
Kunene also blasted the media for "misrepresentation", using unprintable language.
"My TV show has been so successful that e.tv has now decided to air it on Mondays during prime time.
"The second season will now air on Mondays at half-past eight for the next three months.
"My show was never canned, contrary to what a lot of people out there said.
"e.tv is giving So What a second season. This just shows that my show has been very successful.
"I'm grateful to e.tv for giving me this opportunity," Kunene said.
So What returns to the small screen on March 19.
Kunene gave the media copies of two tracks from his soon-to-be-released double album.
He said his passion for music began in 1988 when he bought himself "deejaying equipment".
The ZAR Lounge opened on June 10 2010 and was one of Joburg's most successful and exclusive venues.
With convenient access to the Sandton Gautrain station, and across the road from Sandton City, the southern hemisphere's largest shopping centre, the venue gave an unimpeded view of both the Johannesburg and Sandton central business districts.
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