File
A 41-year-old Congolese national appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Monday facing eight counts of compelled sexual assault and six counts of assault with grievous bodily harm.
The National Prosecuting Authority said charges emanate from two case dockets opened against the accused relating to an incident at the Zanzou nightclub in Pretoria in April 2022.
According to reports, a group of young men were assaulted at the club and forced by the bouncers to perform sexual acts on each other.
The incident was made public recently after a video surfaced on social media, sparking a public outcry and condemnation.
NPA spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, said its further alleged that in a separate incident in January 2023, the “accused compelled four male persons to perform sexual acts on themselves”.
She said this was discovered when videos surfaced on social media, which resulted in six complainants opening cases against the accused.
Mahanjana said the case against the man, who cannot be identified yet, was postponed to 3 March for bail information.
She said investigations are ongoing, and more charges might be added against the accused.
Various media outlets reported that the suspect alleged that he had been assaulted by the police following his arrest.
