PRETORIA – As a police investigation intensifies into allegations of torture, sexual assault, and extortion at the Hatfield-based Zanzou nightclub, two of the establishment's alleged "silent" owners have reportedly fled South Africa.
City Press can reveal that Lebanese brothers Allan and Rani Kobeissi have seemingly skipped the country in the wake of the scandal, which erupted after viral videos surfaced on social media depicting young men being brutally assaulted at the club.
Five victims of the assaults have since laid criminal charges with the police against Rani Kobeissi and others who allegedly participated in their humiliation. The charges include compelled rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and crimen injuria.
A highly placed source revealed: "Everyone knows that Rani and Allan are the silent owners of the place after they bought it from Stephane Cohen. The club was initially called Moloko before it became Zoolida (Pty) Ltd, trading as Zanzou."
According to company records obtained by City Press, the club is officially owned by Soshanguve-born Neo Moela. Katlego Malatji, another partner, resigned in 2021, citing several corporate and employment violations. Malatji was allegedly unhappy with the treatment of workers and felt powerless because he was "fronting" for the Kobeissi brothers, according to a City Press source.
The company records do not mention Cohen as a director, as alleged in several social media posts. Malatji refused to comment, stating that he left the establishment many years ago due to his dissatisfaction with the owners' practices. Moela did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Meanwhile, a 41-year-old Congolese national, known as Soso, was arrested at a roadblock by Johannesburg Metro Police on Thursday on suspicion of being involved in the assaults at the club. Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni confirmed the arrest and thanked the Johannesburg Metro Police Department for their teamwork.
Mthombeni said: "This is a true reflection of law enforcement agencies in Gauteng working together to realise the Police Ministerial Cooperation Agreement which aims to enhance collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders in the region to address safety and security concerns effectively."
Soso has been charged with compelled rape, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and crimen injuria. He is being linked to the two cases reported at the Brooklyn Police Station and is scheduled to appear in court on 24 February. The SAPS have launched a nationwide manhunt for the eight perpetrators seen in the video.
The Tshwane Metro has declared that Zanzou Bar Lounge does not possess the necessary permits to operate as a "nightclub." The DA in Tshwane has investigated whether Zanzou nightclub is in compliance with City by-laws. The investigation revealed Zanzou was zoned as a Category 1 business, preventing it from operating as a nightclub, meaning it has been contravening the City of Tshwane’s zoning regulations.
DA spokesperson for health, Dikeledi Selowa, spoke to eNCA following these findings.
The viral videos from the controversial bar lounge have sparked widespread outrage across the nation and beyond, calling for swift retributive justice. This has led to an investigation into the establishment, met by an immediate shutdown and suspension of their liquor licence.
This harrowing incident has sparked widespread discourse about the safety, accountability, and repercussions for entertainment venues, many of whom are known for frequently exacting their own personal forms of punishment on their guests. Both the owners and the majority of employees of Zanzou are foreign nationals.
In South Africa, where illegal immigration is a dire problem, many perpetrators of crimes such as these remain untraceable and are never found as they are undocumented. The flight of the Kobeissi brothers and the arrest of Soso have further fuelled concerns about the role of foreign nationals in criminal activities in the country.
The investigation into Zanzou nightclub is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information about the alleged abuses to come forward.
