Torture and forced tlof tlof in Zanzou Nightclub: Bouncer who leaked the viral videos reveals more details, says many people killed (WATCH)

PRETORIA – Zanzou nightclub, a popular Pretoria establishment, is at the centre of a storm following the release of disturbing videos depicting extreme violence and torture allegedly perpetrated by its bouncers against patrons.

The graphic footage, which has been widely circulated online, shows men bound, naked, and subjected to acts that authorities are investigating as potential kidnapping, sexual assault, and attempted murder.

The videos were leaked by a man identifying himself only as Pablo, a former bouncer at Zanzou. Pablo, who claims to have worked at the club for seven years, has taken to TikTok under the username @pabloizi0 to expose what he describes as a culture of abuse and impunity within the establishment.

In a video posted on his TikTok page, Pablo alleges that he witnessed numerous instances of torture and abuse during his time at Zanzou. He claims to possess over 75 videos documenting these incidents and plans to release them in the coming days, providing details, proof, pictures, and confirmation to support his claims.

"I will be posting each video, and I'll give details, all the proof, all the pictures and all the confirmation so that you guys can see everything," Pablo stated in his video.

He acknowledged the potential danger he faces as a whistleblower, stating, "I know right now those people are looking for me, they promised to kill me, they promised to do some bad things to me but you guys must know that I will do what is right…I'm going to expose all the sh***t."

Pablo explained that he secretly filmed the heinous acts, despite a strict ban on cameras in the torture area. He claims to have concealed his phone on his chest while recording, acting as if he was participating in the assaults to avoid detection.

"I was acting like I was hitting them but at the same time [I'm secretly recording] because I couldn't take videos in that area because it was not allowed. I know everyone is surprised how I got the videos; I've got more, they can say what they want to say but I'm going to expose everything, those people are evil," he said.

Pablo further alleges that attempts to report the assaults to the police were often thwarted due to the perpetrators' alleged connections within the Sunnyside and Brooklyn police departments. "Those people [work] with police, Sunnyside, Brooklyn, all the police are under them, they pay the supervisor and when you open a case against Zanzou, they will delete the case," he claimed.

In response to the surfacing of the videos, Zanzou management released a statement acknowledging their existence and claiming to have dismissed the security personnel responsible for the alleged torture. The club also accused a man identified as Mr. Herve of attempting to extort the establishment by threatening to release the videos unless his demands were met.

However, Pablo has refuted the club's claims, denying that he was fired. He asserts that he stopped going to work after receiving his last salary, at which point he became a target.

"When did they fire me?" Pablo questioned. "I was at the staff party before we closed, I was there with the bosses. I have a video, and I have proof of my last payment…Everything they wrote [in the statement] is fake, I stopped working for them. This is how they operate, when you don't want to work for them, they will make sure they kill you," he said.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched a full-scale investigation into the allegations. National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, stated that police are looking into various offences, including rape, assault, assault GBH (grievous bodily harm), crimen injuria (criminal defamation), and kidnapping.

Brigadier Mathe has urged more victims and witnesses to come forward, stating, "Witnesses and those who have knowledge of the incident are also encouraged to come forward to assist police investigations."

The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is leading the investigation, focusing on charges of compelled rape, assault, crimen injuria, intimidation, and kidnapping. Brigadier Mathe confirmed that only three victims, aged 20, 21, and 22, had reported to the Brooklyn police station as of Monday evening.

"According to the victims, they were a group of five friends who were subjected to the abuse. Police are confident that the other two victims will be traced and their statements will also be included in the docket," she added.

The complainants allege that the incident occurred in January 2023 when a dispute arose between the five friends, bouncers, and the nightclub's manager. According to Mathe, "The bouncers and manager allegedly forced the five victims into a store room and began assaulting them, instructed them to insert alcohol bottles into their private parts and forced them to perform sexual acts on themselves."

Police are also seeking to locate Pablo, believing he could provide valuable assistance in solving the case. "Pablo has made numerous allegations and police are of the view that he would be instrumental in assisting police to solve this case," said Mathe.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has issued a strong condemnation of the alleged violence, torture, and dehumanisation perpetrated at Zanzou nightclub. Spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi stated, "These reprehensible acts are a gross violation of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which upholds the values of human dignity, equality, and the rule of law."

Masibi emphasised that "No individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands. South Africa is governed by the rule of law, where justice is administered through legal and constitutional means. The barbaric and inhumane treatment of individuals, as seen in the videos, must be met with the full force of the law to uphold justice and reaffirm the principle that human rights are non-negotiable."

The Department has called for the immediate closure of Zanzou nightclub "until a full and thorough investigation is concluded," stating that "Businesses operating within South Africa are required to adhere to our constitutional framework, which includes the obligation to respect and promote human rights. Any establishment found to be complicit in or tolerating such heinous acts must face serious consequences."

Adding to the pressure, members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) staged a protest outside Zanzou, demanding the arrest of the club owner and the closure of the business. Gauteng chairperson of the EFF, Nkululeko Dunga, stated, "Such abhorrent behaviour cannot be tolerated in a society that prides itself on upholding human dignity and justice. The EFF strongly believes that there is no reason whatsoever, to justify the dehumanization of other people like that."

Dunga said the EFF would report the incident to the Human Rights Commission of South Africa to ensure that the management is held accountable.

Zanzou management, in a statement on Instagram, claimed that "at the time when management became aware of these practices, an immediate investigation was conducted which resulted in the immediate halting of such as well as the dismissal of security personnel responsible for the perpetration thereof". The statement did not clarify when management became aware of the alleged "practices." They also indicated they were exploring legal options regarding the actions of the former security employee allegedly responsible.

The scandal surrounding Zanzou nightclub has sparked outrage and condemnation from all sectors of South African society. The ongoing police investigation, coupled with the potential for civil action and scrutiny from human rights organisations, places the future of the establishment in serious doubt.