/ 25 April 2007

SA crime rate a ‘joke’, says Teazers boss

The owner of the Teazers chain of strip clubs, Lolly Jackson, described the South African crime rate as ”a joke” after being robbed at gunpoint for the third time.

”The crime rate in South Africa is a joke. Crime is a joke, it is something beyond me,” Jackson said on Wednesday.

The Teazers boss was speaking after an incident on Sunday in which he was robbed in Johannesburg’s plush suburb of Houghton of his Bentley Breitling watch, cellphone and wallet.

Jackson said he was in the driveway of former Miss South Africa Vanessa Carreira’s home shortly after 1.30pm. He was there to collect his pink Cadillac, which Carreira had borrowed on Saturday.

”Suddenly a guy held a gun to my head, told me to lie down and he took my watch, cellphone and my wallet,” said Jackson.

The robber fled in a Mercedes-Benz sedan.

Jackson, who had been robbed twice before in 2002 and 2005, said he would emigrate.

”I mean Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest whereby people have a braai with their families. Instead criminals are out looking for opportunities.

”Yes, I am definitely emigrating within the next two years.”

Asked about the future of his businesses, Jackson said that his life was more important than his businesses.

Jackson said it was unfair that criminals who rob others are released on bail of R100 while he was released on R20 000 bail for speeding.

”It is not fair, that is not the way it’s supposed to be.”

Jackson has laid a complaint at the Norwood police station.

”I have opened a case at the police. At the moment I’m just wondering what the 2010 World Cup is going to be like with all this crime,” he said.

Asked where he would emigrate to, Jackson said: ”I don’t know, I haven’t decided yet.” — Sapa