Duane Vermeulen. Picture: Instagram

Retired Springbok rugby player Duane Vermeulen has expressed his deep disappointment as his business has now become the latest target of a recent burglary.

In a recent Instagram post, Duane, who has won two Rugby World Cups and a British and Irish Lions streak with the national team, informed his followers that his restaurant De SluisHuis had to close its doors after it was recently broken into and resulted in more damage to the premises. .

“It is with great regret that we have to share the sad news that De SluisHuis Padstal has fallen victim to a massive theft incident which has left our little gem badly damaged.”

“This has forced us to temporarily close for repairs to get us back up and running! We apologize for any inconvenience and promise to work hard so that all of our loyal customers can pop in 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.

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

The couple are currently based in Cape Town, the restaurant was managed by their in-laws, Ane and Cor Steyn.

Following his post, many took to the comments section to wish the team well as the restoration processes began.

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