Johannesburg – A new restaurant on Johannesburg’s iconic Vilakazi Street was forced to delay preparations for its launch after a gang of masked thieves broke in and stole expensive alcohol just hours before opening.
According to the restaurant, four masked men broke into Sugar People Soweto at around 4am on Friday, heading straight for the bar where they loaded bottles of premium liquor into wheelie bins.
CCTV footage shows the suspects speaking Afrikaans as they carried out the theft, with the raid lasting less than nine minutes before the group fled.
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The venue said the timing of the burglary was particularly damaging because it had stocked up on alcohol ahead of its launch event later that day.
Sharing footage of the incident on social media, the restaurant said: “Well… this wasn’t on today’s opening checklist. Unfortunately, we were robbed this morning around 04:00 which has delayed our preparations.”
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Despite the setback, the restaurant confirmed it would still welcome customers, adding: “The good news? Nobody is giving up, and we’re getting everything back on track. We’ll be opening from 2:00 PM today and can’t wait to welcome you.”
The restaurant thanked patrons for their patience and support, saying: “Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support. See you this afternoon!”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
