Gauteng Liquor Board suspends Zanzou liquor licence
The metro has confirmed that the establishment is not permitted to operate as a nightclub as it has a Business 1 zoning, which only allows it to be a place of refreshment.
The Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) has suspended Pretoria nightclub Zanzou’s liquor licence.
Tshwane metro also confirmed that the establishment on Jan Shoba Street in Hatfield is not permitted to operate as a nightclub.
The nightclub has Business 1 zoning, which allows it to be a place of refreshment, however, a nightclub is a place that combines refreshment and entertainment.
The club finds itself the subject of controversy after footage depicting the torture and sexual abuse its bounces allegedly perpetrated on patrons on the premises went viral online leading to public outrage and criminal investigation.
According to police, the incident captured in the videos happened in January 2023.
The GLB said according to its statutory mandate under the Gauteng Liquor Board Act No 2 of 2003, it has taken action against the establishment.
Action against Zoolida (Pty) Limited, trading under the name Zanzou has been taken, its liquor licence has been suspended with immediate effect.
According to the board, the suspension was issued following allegations and videos widely circulated online.
The footage shows the mistreatment, torture, violence and sexual abuse of patrons at the facility.
“These incidents have raised significant concerns regarding the safety and lawful operation of the premises.”
The GLB said the decision to suspend the licence was taken following the reports of severe non-compliance.
Following the assessment by the GLB, the following was discovered about Zanzou:
– The licensee confirmed awareness of the unlawful incidents captured in the horrific, degrading video footage.
– The acts of violence and misconduct occurred on the licensed premises, implicating the establishment in serious regulatory breaches.
– The licensee failed to report the criminal conduct to police as required.
– The primary concern of the licensee, as indicated in its statement, appears to be reputational damage, instead of the safety and well-being of the alleged victims.
The board said, given these findings, it has decided to suspend the licence of the club pending conclusion of a formal inquiry as well as police investigations.
The suspension is part of a broader crackdown on illegal activities within licensed premises in the province.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the club was not compliant with municipal by-laws.
He said two building inspections had been conducted to date on August 12, 2022 and on October 21, 2022.
Both were at night to establish if the place was used a nightclub.
Mashigo said the last inspection revealed the premises were not handling foodstuff, thus the Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) had not been there recently.
“Following an operation on August, 12, 2022, a non-compliance notice was served on the owner because the establishment was at that time being used as a place of amusement.”
He added that during a follow-up operation, the establishment was determined to be compliant as it was not operating as a nightclub then.
Mashigo said to ensure that all establishments across Tshwane are compliant, multi-disciplinary enforcement campaigns are conducted under the auspices of the Integrated By-law Enforcement Centre (IBEC) in order to ensure that similar incidents don’t occur.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development “strongly condemned the shocking and deeply disturbing acts of violence, torture, and dehumanisation” allegedly perpetrated at Zanzou nightclub in Pretoria.
“As depicted in widely circulated videos, 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,” said the department.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development in Parliament, Xola Nqola, noted “with sadness” the videos circulating on social media about events at Zanzou Bar and Lounge.
Nqola said it is unclear why the management did not lay charges with police when it first became aware of the incident.
“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,” said Nqola.
He called 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.”
Maybe the Zanzou story will get better and bigger if all the victims come back and file new charges.
This is similar to that P Diddy story, diddlers are everywhere.
This Zanzou saga has shed light on previous cold cases.
Why is not the owner yet arrested??💔💔 pic.twitter.com/80kjxwCyFT
— Unruly Universal ♞ (@uuniversalmusic) February 19, 2025
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