A man identifying himself as Pablo has stepped forward to take responsibility for leaking shocking videos that reveal extreme violence and torture at Zanzou’s nightclub in Pretoria. The videos, which have gone viral, depict horrific acts of abuse, including kidnapping, sexual assault, and near-fatal assaults, allegedly carried out by the nightclub’s bouncers against patrons who failed to pay their bills. In the clips, victims are seen bound and gagged, with some filmed naked in disturbing positions, highlighting severe human rights violations.
Pablo, a former employee who worked as a bouncer at the nightclub for seven years, shared the disturbing footage on his TikTok account, under the username @pabloizi0. In a video posted to his profile, he explained that he had witnessed countless instances of torture and abuse during his time at Zanzou. He also revealed that he had secretly recorded more than 75 videos of the horrific incidents, which he planned to release in the coming days.
“I will post each video with all the details, the proof, and the pictures so everyone can see everything,” Pablo said, adding that he feared for his safety. “They promised to kill me. They promised to do horrible things to me, but I will do what is right, and I’m going to expose all of it. Those people are evil.” He also described how, while he was ordered not to record the abuse, he managed to secretly film the bouncers’ actions by hiding his phone under his chest while pretending to be involved in the violence.
Pablo also claimed that victims who attempted to report the abuse to the authorities were thwarted, as the perpetrators allegedly had connections with local police. “When you open a case against Zanzou, they delete it,” he said, accusing officers from Sunnyside and Brooklyn police stations of being paid to protect the club’s management.
In response to the viral videos, Zanzou’s management issued a statement acknowledging the footage and claiming that the bouncers responsible for the torture had been dismissed. However, the former bouncer, who went by the name Mr. Herve, refuted this claim, asserting that he never had been fired. According to him, he stopped working for the nightclub voluntarily after receiving his last payment. He also insisted that the statement issued by Zanzou’s management was false, adding that the club retaliated against him for leaving, allegedly threatening his life.
The disturbing footage prompted action from authorities, and three victims came forward to file charges against the nightclub at the Brooklyn police station. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the police were investigating various serious offences, including rape, assault, kidnapping, and crimen injuria. She also urged other victims or witnesses to come forward and assist with the investigation.
The situation sparked widespread outrage, and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took to the streets to protest outside Zanzou. They demanded the arrest of the nightclub’s owner and called for the business to be shut down. Nkululeko Dunga, the EFF’s Gauteng chairperson, condemned the brutality displayed in the videos, stressing that such behavior should not be tolerated in a society that values human dignity and justice. The party also pledged to report the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission, ensuring that those responsible for the abuse would be held accountable for their actions.
The disturbing revelations about Zanzou nightclub have sent shockwaves through the community, prompting calls for justice, accountability, and reform within both the nightclub industry and law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing, and more victims are encouraged to come forward to ensure that this egregious abuse is thoroughly addressed.
