31/08/2026
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
We have had enough. It should never have got to this.
Enough of being told there are “rumours” about us. Enough of being told that people are talking badly about us behind our backs.
But for what?
What have we actually done to anyone?
We came here to build a life for ourselves and our three boys. We came to Notties believing that opening a restaurant at The Junction could be something special — a place where people could eat, meet, laugh and enjoy good food.
And the customers we have actually met? They have been wonderful. Kind, welcoming and supportive.
So we have to ask ourselves: where does all this negativity come from?
Why do we constantly feel like foreigners in our own country?
We are South Africans. We are a family trying to make a living, raise our children and build something of our own. We employ 15 people, and behind every one of those employees is a family, children, rent, groceries and responsibilities.
We are not in the middle of a city. Notties is seasonal. July and December are busy, while the quieter months can be incredibly difficult for a small restaurant. That is the reality of running a business here.
And yes, staff have come and gone. Not because we enjoy losing people, but because unfortunately we have dealt with things like theft and serious misconduct. Running a restaurant is not always glamorous. Sometimes you have to make incredibly difficult decisions simply to keep the business going.
And yes, we have made changes in our personal lives too.
We moved our boys out of Clifton because financially, it was the right thing to do.
We have taken on employment elsewhere because the restaurant alone is not currently enough to support our family.
And do you know what? We are not ashamed of that.
Because when life knocks us down, we don't stay down.
We get back up.
We work. We find solutions. We adapt. We do whatever we need to do for our family.
So when our names are being spoken about, when people are discussing us behind our backs, we ask you to stop for a moment and think:
Have you ever been at rock bottom?
And if you have, what did you do to get yourself back up?
Because we are doing exactly that.
We have never simply given up.
We are still here.
We are still working.
We are still fighting.
And we are still trying to make this restaurant work.
So, to whoever is behind all the negativity — please, come and speak to us directly.
Don't talk about us behind our backs.
Don't spread stories.
Don't tell other people what you think of us.
Come and talk to us.
If we have genuinely done something to offend you, tell us. If there is something we can improve, tell us. If you have a problem with us, let's sit down and have an adult conversation.
And if what you actually want is the restaurant, the space, or the opportunity to run something at The Junction — then let's have that conversation too.
But please…
Leave our family alone.
We are trying to survive.
We are trying to build something.
We are trying to give our children a good life.
And we are trying to provide jobs for 15 people and their families.
We don't expect everyone to love us.
We don't expect everyone to love our food.
We don't expect everyone to agree with every decision we make.
But we do expect to be treated fairly.
Because at the end of the day, behind the restaurant, behind the business, behind the name, we are just a family trying to make it work.
We are South Africans.
And South Africans don't stay down.
We get knocked down. We get back up. We dust ourselves off. And we keep going.
So if all this negativity is meant to break us…
Sorry.
You're only making us stronger.
We aren't going anywhere quietly.
We're going to keep working.
We're going to keep improving.
We're going to keep fighting for our family, our staff and our business.
And to the people who have supported us, welcomed us, eaten with us, encouraged us and stood by us — thank you.
You are the reason we keep going.
❤️🇿🇦
