Cape Town – The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development in Parliament has called for the arrest of the owners of Zanzou nightclub to bring accountability.
The committee said it was “extremely concerned” by the disturbing video clips circulating on social media of events at ZanZou nightclub in Pretoria.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development Xola Nqola on Tuesday, (18 February 2025), said he “noted with sadness the videos circulating videos on social media” about events at the nightclub.
“The videos show disproportionate abuse directed at black men,” said Nqola.
“However, ZanZou management said the videos are old and were an extortion attempt by one of its security personnel.
“ZanZou management stated that they have engaged new security personnel and have vowed to work with the police.”
Nqola said it was unclear why ZanZou’s management did not lay charges with the police when they first became aware of the incident.
He called on law enforcement to get involved and not to rely on information related to them and out-of-context social media videos.
“These practices are a common occurrence in many white-owned and foreign-owned nightclubs across the country,” said Nqola.
“No patrons set out to experience what is being perpetuated and recorded.
“If accountability means arresting managers and owners of the establishment that must happen.”
Nqola said apart from the exploitation of foreign nationals at many of these establishments, there was a lot of abuse of poor South Africans who genuinely wanted to make a living, the chairperson said.
“The comment of ZanZou is not enough to explain what is, in the eyes of everyone, old and an extortion experiment from one of their security personnel,” said Nqola.
“We call on the Human Rights Commission to get involved and speak to the affected and the alleged extortionists.
“There are a lot more issues that need to be uncovered than meet the eye.
“Nightclub establishments thrive on illegality that seems to be perpetuated without mitigation.”
