Theft forces Springbok Duane Vermeulen to close restaurant

Duane Vermeulen. Image: Instagram

Retired Springbok rugby player Duane Vermeulen has expressed his disappointment after his business became the latest target of a recent theft.

Duane, who won two Rugby World Cups and a British & Irish Lions series with the national team, informed his followers in a recent Instagram post that De SluisHuis restaurant had to close its doors after a recent attack caused extensive damage to the premises. .

“It is with great sadness that we have to share the sad news that De SluisHuis Padstal has been the victim of a major theft that has caused great damage to our little jewel.”

“This forced us to temporarily close to make repairs to get it back up and running! We apologize for any inconvenience and promise to work hard so all our loyal customers can stop by again soon to make memories,” he wrote.

The restaurant is located in Deneysville, on the banks of the Vaal Dam in the Free State Province, and has become a popular spot for travelers looking to grab a bite to eat while exploring the natural beauty of the iconic landmark and the rest of the province.

Hoping to continue the legacy of the family business, Duane and his wife, Ezél Vermeulen, purchased the land just outside of Deneysville from Ezél’s family in 2020, and it officially opened in December 2023.

The couple currently live in Cape Town and the restaurant is run by their mothers-in-law, Ane and Cor Steyn.

After sharing, many people in the comments section wished the team well as they started the restoration work.

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