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Cape Town - Renewed strife between ex-Springbok Jannie Engelbrecht, 72, and his son Jean, have cost their Stellenbosch estate Rust en Vrede one of its biggest assets.
This time around alleged financial mismanagement on the part of Jean over the course of the last five years has lead to the resignation of David Higgs, one of South Africa's top chefs.
Higgs is in charge of the restaurant on the estate with the same name.
He confirmed on Thursday that he is leaving in order to pursue new challenges in Johannesburg.
At the end of last year Higgs won all three of South Africa’s most coveted prizes in the culinary industry when he was awarded with the Eat Out Restaurant prize for Best Chef while Rust en Vrede won the awards for Best Restaurant and Best Service.
Rent
In 2010 the restaurant featured at number 74 on the San Pellegrino List of the top 100 restaurants in the world.
Food and wine circles are buzzing with the reasons for Higgs's sudden resignation, but the informed say that Rust en Vrede faces serious cut-backs if they want to keep the business afloat.
This follows after Rapport learned with authority that "Jannie has trouble getting his (rent) money, because Rust and Vrede can't pay".
Jean has been renting the estate from his father since 2006, after filing a lawsuit against him in which he unsuccessfully tried to exclude him from the family trust.
Father and son were also in court in 2005 after Jannie accused Jean of assault.
Jean denied the allegations.
According to Jean, Higgs's assistant chef John Shuttleworth will be taking over as head chef on July 19.
This time around alleged financial mismanagement on the part of Jean over the course of the last five years has lead to the resignation of David Higgs, one of South Africa's top chefs.
Higgs is in charge of the restaurant on the estate with the same name.
He confirmed on Thursday that he is leaving in order to pursue new challenges in Johannesburg.
At the end of last year Higgs won all three of South Africa’s most coveted prizes in the culinary industry when he was awarded with the Eat Out Restaurant prize for Best Chef while Rust en Vrede won the awards for Best Restaurant and Best Service.
Rent
In 2010 the restaurant featured at number 74 on the San Pellegrino List of the top 100 restaurants in the world.
Food and wine circles are buzzing with the reasons for Higgs's sudden resignation, but the informed say that Rust en Vrede faces serious cut-backs if they want to keep the business afloat.
This follows after Rapport learned with authority that "Jannie has trouble getting his (rent) money, because Rust and Vrede can't pay".
Jean has been renting the estate from his father since 2006, after filing a lawsuit against him in which he unsuccessfully tried to exclude him from the family trust.
Father and son were also in court in 2005 after Jannie accused Jean of assault.
Jean denied the allegations.
According to Jean, Higgs's assistant chef John Shuttleworth will be taking over as head chef on July 19.
