A Congolese man linked to the shocking ZanZou appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and was granted bail. He is facing multiple charges.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, the 41-year-old Congolese national was granted R10 000 bail by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.

“The man is facing eight counts of compelled sexual assault and six counts of assault with grievous bodily harm. The charges emanate from two case dockets opened against the accused.”

Mahanjana said it is alleged that in April 2022, the accused assaulted the two victims in the matter.

“In a separate incident in January 2023, it is alleged that the accused compelled four male persons to perform sexual acts on themselves.”

She added that this was discovered when videos surfaced on social media, which resulted in six complainants opening cases against the accused.

The highly graphic videos depicting severe human rights violations have gone viral on social media, sparking outrage and prompting police to intensify efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

According to police, the incident happened in January 2023.

In the videos, the men are forced to perform lewd sexual acts on themselves using their hands and objects.

In another instance, a grey cloth is placed over their heads before they are drenched in water – a torture technique known as waterboarding.

A man is seen stabbing the men in the buttocks in one of the videos. “Don’t move, you think we’re playing here. You’re going to die,” the torturer is heard saying.

Mahanjana said the Congolese man, in his affidavit, asked to be released on bail because he has three children and a wife for whom he needs to provide, and he has no previous or pending cases.

“The state, however, opposed his release on bail, arguing that the man was a flight risk and was likely to evade trial. Furthermore, the state argued that the man had no valid travel document, and his refugee status is still pending, awaiting a decision by the Department of Home Affairs.”

She said the district court magistrate found that it was in the interest of justice that the accused be released on bail, with conditions that he should report at Sunnyside police station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

“Furthermore, the accused was ordered not to leave the jurisdiction of Pretoria.”

The matter was postponed to May 5, 2025, for further investigations.

Also read: Congolese man linked to Zanzou case appears in court

Also read: Shocking torture videos from Pretoria’s Zanzou nightclub – Victims urged to come forward

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