Is Bree Street’s The Nunnery a brothel?

A resident and a church reverend are kicking up a storm about an alleged brothel in Bree Street which operates under the guise of an upmarket restaurant.

Cape Town - A Cape Town resident and a church reverend are kicking up a storm about a “brothel” in Bree Street, where people have to endure loud noises and drunken behaviour.

Reverend Kevin Groepe and resident Katie Friedman have made official complaints to police about The Nunnery located at 207 Bree Street.

The establishment is advertised as an upmarket restaurant.

This week Groepe wrote an open letter to the owner of the property, Garith Nunn, to highlight his concerns.

“We have endured the illicit and sorrowful trade at 207 Bree Street, which commenced around 2010, and confirm that we have witnessed a large number of incidents which include: drunken, foul and abusive behaviour from male customers; strong-handed ‘security’ techniques and intimidation; a steady stream of single men arriving and leaving throughout the night; large numbers of loud taxis leaving at all hours of the morning; loud music at all hours; intimidation to my family and members of my congregation who have the misfortune to encounter the remnants of your Saturday night trade during our early Sunday service; crying women who clearly worked there cast out onto the street; and a regular number of police raids,” Groepe writes.

He said the recent signage “The Nunnery” makes a “very public mockery” not only of their faith, but also the history and heritage of Cape Town.

“The church has stood on this site and has served the people of Cape Town for almost 160 years, but also further highlights the utter contempt and disrespect afforded to our church and congregation by your shameful tenant Mr Nunn,” Groepe said.

In a plea to Nunn, Groepe wrote: “We appeal to your common decency and sense of community in respectfully asking you to stop endorsing and profiting from this unsavoury trade on your premises at 207 Bree Street, which has become all-the-more inappropriate and transparent as the rest of Bree Street has evolved into the quality dining and entertainment destination it is today.”

Nunn could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, but in a Facebook post Nunn wrote: “These allegations need to come to an end they are lies and a malicious attempt to ruin out (sic) business. Can Katherine (Katie Friedman) please stop producing false allegations for what ever personal reason she has.”

Friedman said the SAPS raided the venue on Sunday.

“Mr Nunn moved the girls around the corner and is using The Nunnery to continue to sell drugs and send the male punters around the corner to the rooms where the girls work from,” Friedman said.

Friedman added that Nunn had made the matter “very personal” after mentioning her home, where she lives with her husband and young children, in a threat recently on Facebook.

“This clearly summarises the low-life, bully-boy tactics employed by Nunn,” she said.

Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said the metro police’s Vice Squad had a joint operation with the SAPS at The Nunnery on Sunday. There were no arrests.

“It is difficult to police such places because prostitution can only be policed on the streets,” Smith said.

carlo.petersen@inl.co.za

@carlo_petersen

Cape Times