Magistrate grants bail to Zanzou nightclub bouncer, cites factors over crime’s gruesome nature

JOHANNESBURG - The magistrate who granted bail to a bouncer accused of sexually violating patrons says the factors he presented outweigh the gruesome nature of the crime he is accused of.

Magistrate Ernest Mbembele granted the 41-year-old Congolese asylum seeker R10,000 bail.

The man was arrested last month after videos showing young men being forced to sexually violate themselves at the Zanzou nightclub.

The accused cannot be named or filmed as the State says more victims are coming forward, and he will be taken through further identity parades.

"Count 8 assault to cause grievous bodily harm, count 8 compelled sexual assault."

The 41-year-old Congolese national is facing 13 counts of compelled self sexual assault and assault to cause grievous bodily harm.

When Magistrate Ernest Mbembele started his judgment, he stated that the accused faces schedule 1 offences and not schedule 5, placing the onus on the State to prove why his release on bail would not be in the interest of justice

In the bail hearing, the State asked the court to consider the violent nature of the crimes the man is accused of.

"I am of the view, and I take this view not lightly, that the accused has before this court on a balance of probabilities, his factors outweigh the fact that the offence was very gruesome."

As part of the bail conditions, the accused must report to Sunnyside Police Station three times a week