A break-in at Dana's eatery or not?

Singer Simphiwe Dana says yes, cops say no

AFRO-JAZZ and Soul sensation Simphiwe Dana says the break-in at her new restaurant, Kulture Noir in Norwood, Joburg, has not shaken her.

"The thieves helped themselves to expensive liquor and electronic appliances," she told Sowetan.

Dana said her restaurant, named after her latest album, was broken into after hours last Friday. The burglars also stole a flat screen television set.

Dana said the stolen goods were worth more than R20,000.

"I was called by one of my partners who told me about it. It is very upsetting. We have just started and something this nasty is happening."

She said the incident was no big deal.

"I tweeted about it because I wanted our revellers to know why the place was closed (the next day). It is not a big deal. I do not want to make a big issue about it," said Dana.

But Norwood police station, where Dana claims the case was opened, knows nothing about the burglary.

Norwood police station spokesman Captain Phillip Maganedisa said there was no break-in or robbery case registered by anyone from Kulture Noir there.

"You are not the first journalist to call about this. We have had a lot of enquiries. I can confirm that no case like that was opened."

But a policewoman who answered the phone earlier confirmed a case concerning Kulture Noir had been opened.

Asked for a case number, Dana said she would come back to Sowetan with it.

By the time of going to press she had not done so.

Dana said the restaurant serves mostly African cuisine, offers live music, targets a mature audience and is frequented by celebrities.