Mavericks’ Immigration to South Africa – Illegal or Legal?

Cleansing South Africa: The Downfall of Mavericks

Protestors outside Mavericks Revue Bar (in the same street as Home Affairs)

For days, Christian protesters had been fighting against the chaos of obscenity that the Mavericks strip club has sparked in Cape Town. The protesters believe that the strip joint’s alleged sexual exploitation of women promotes adultery, breeds HIV and AIDS sicknesses, and degrades the moral standards of South Africa. Many of their billboards revealed explicit images of women in public, degrading the value of the exotic dancers, offending many organizations.

This has induced legal action, from members of the public as well as from The South African Department of Home Affairs. Court battles were charged; the protesters wanted Mavericks’ license revoked. The revoking of the license could cause the pleasure business to shut down. The sex trade and violence on women is nothing new in South Africa; HIV and AIDS have been spread because of these causes. It is imperative for the community of Cape Town to break down this sex-driven powerhouse called Mavericks.

In early February 2012, Mavericks’ path went downhill when the legal battle against their rights brought down them down, revoking their license. The future of foreign dancers at Cape Town strip club Mavericks lies in the balance, after the Western Cape High Court ordered the Human Rights Commission to probe their inhumane employment conditions. Judge Desai in court said that there was a problem with the living conditions of the foreign dancers who were working with Mavericks; he also said that the establishment had broken immigration laws. The judge also dismissed several claims regarding the future of Mavericks club’s business. Shane Harrison, the owner of Mavericks did not expect the judgment of the court, shocking him to the point of desiring an appeal. Harrison counters the judge’s statements about the harsh living conditions of the dancers, saying that the dancers are in no way distressed in their occupation.

It sounds like South Africa’s sinful threat is being trampled upon, but is the legal battle over? It would seem that this could simply be a situation of beliefs – Christians versus a revue bar or club? The future of Harrison’s Mavericks does not seem very hopeful. However, the punishment for Mavericks’ violations would become a solution against the immoral and unhealthy issues pervading South Africa. Are the workers really unhappy?

What are your thoughts on both Mavericks’ immigration into South Africa and also their business practices?

Update: Mavericks has also recently faced charges by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regarding billboards which depicted naked women – however their appeal against this was upheld and, with slight alterations, the billboards and advertising have remained.