7th Zanzou victim tells his story as the nightclub director gets shocked: 8 bouncers were taking turns to assault people through tlof tlof (WATCH)

Pretoria – The investigation into allegations of torture and sexual assault at Zanzou nightclub in Pretoria has intensified, with a seventh victim coming forward to report the horrific abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of the club's bouncers. This development was revealed during the court appearance of a 41-year-old Congolese national, a former bouncer at Zanzou, who is facing multiple charges in connection with the case.

The man, who has been in custody for nearly two weeks, is accused of eight counts of compelled sexual acts and six counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred in April 2022 and January 2023.

According to prosecutor Liana Bosman, the seventh victim provided a statement to police on Sunday. "The police traced another victim. He only made his statement yesterday (Sunday)," she told the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Bosman requested that the media refrain from revealing the identity of the suspect, a former Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) fighter, as an identity parade is yet to be conducted. "We ask that there mustn't be any video, pictures and audio of these proceedings that will reveal the identity of the suspect… An identity parade will be conducted swiftly," she said. The matter was postponed until 28 March for a bail application.

The latest victim is the third person to come forward since videos of the alleged abuse, dating back to 2023, surfaced on social media platforms last month. These videos were reportedly released by a disgruntled former bouncer at the nightclub.

The arrested former MMA fighter was apprehended in Yeoville by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit, acting on a tip-off from a confidential informer.

News24 understands that two of the four victims allegedly tortured in January 2023 are cousins. It is alleged that the suspect and other bouncers subjected the victims to torture while they were at the nightclub.

Meanwhile, Zanzou director and shareholder Neo Moela, 34, has expressed his willingness to take accountability, despite claiming to have been unaware of the alleged incidents. This statement contradicts an earlier claim from the nightclub's management that they were aware of the incident.

It has been revealed that patrons who failed to settle their bills at the nightclub were assaulted and forced to perform sexual acts with beer bottles. Speaking at a press briefing in Milpark, Johannesburg, Moela's legal representative, Zola Majavu, stated: "I apologise to those whose rights have been violated… As a young South African entrepreneur and as a human being with family ethos, I do not condone those acts… in fact, I condemn them in the strongest of terms."

Majavu stated that the incident took place three years ago. Cases before the Pretoria magistrate's court cite incidents of assault happening in April 2022 and January 2023 at the nightclub.

According to Majavu, Moela, who has been a director since 2018, is cooperating with authorities. Majavu also noted that police have not approached or treated Moela as a suspect at this time.

Majavu questioned the timing of the case gaining traction, despite the incidents dating back to 2022. "From the facts we have gathered, watch this space. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. How is it that an incident three years old only came to the director's knowledge now?"

Majavu added that Moela has provided authorities with all necessary information, including Zanzou's liquor licence, as investigations by the City of Tshwane, police, and liquor board continue.

MK Party spokesperson in Gauteng, Bafana Mahlabe, expressed his relief that more victims were coming forward. "It's sad that our kids, in their land, can be treated in the manner that they were treated, which is a very barbaric act that happened to them. As the MKP, we are saying that the law must take its course," Mahlabe stated.

A manhunt remains underway for eight individuals believed to be involved in the assaults at Zanzou, with only one arrest made thus far.