The director of Zanzou Nightclub, Neo Moela, has come forward to address the shocking allegations of violence and abuse at his establishment. Following the release of disturbing videos showing patrons being assaulted by security personnel, Moela, through his lawyer, Advocate Zola Majavu, has apologised to the victims and promised accountability.
However, his response has instigated debate over his role in the scandal and whether he should bear responsibility for the events that unfolded under his watch.
Facing public outrage and mounting pressure, Neo Moela has remained largely silent, until now. In a public briefing, Advocate Zola Majavu, speaking on Moela’s behalf, made it clear that the nightclub director is not avoiding responsibility.
“With reports of Zanzou nightclub owners leaving the country, director Neo Moela says he is ready to take accountability. We took a conscious decision that we are not going to talk about people who are not here,” said Majavu, dismissing speculation that Moela was attempting to flee South Africa.
In response to calls for direct engagement with the victims, Majavu said that Moela would not personally interact with them unless accused of interfering with the investigation.
“He will be accountable,” Majavu said, while also maintaining that Moela had no prior knowledge of the incidents before the videos surfaced.
While Moela has expressed a willingness to cooperate with authorities, questions remain about his legal liability in the case. As a director of Zanzou Nightclub, some argue that he should have been aware of the club’s security practices and taken steps to prevent such incidents.
However, Majavu was firm in his defense, saying:
He has no knowledge of it; we understand what the law says on both criminal liability as well as civil liability of directors. So we are not here as a PR exercise; I am a lawyer, not a spin doctor.
This statement suggests that Moela intends to distance himself from direct involvement, leaving legal experts to debate whether he can be held criminally or civilly liable for the violent actions of his security staff.
As investigations continue, law enforcement has already made at least one arrest. A 41-year-old Congolese man has appeared in court in connection with the assaults, facing charges of compelled sexual assault and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Police have also indicated that more arrests may follow, raising concerns about whether Moela himself could face legal action if found to have had knowledge of or failed to prevent these abuses.
Public reaction to Moela’s response has been mixed. While some acknowledge his willingness to take accountability, others believe he has not done enough.
Community organisations, including Not In My Name International, have gone as far as demanding the closure of Zanzou Nightclub, arguing that Moela and his management team failed to protect their patrons
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Social media has been flooded with calls for Moela to resign and for stricter nightclub regulations to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
