Nightclub security is back in the spotlight after the death of a reveller who was allegedly assaulted in a popular Cape establishment.
|||Cape Town - Nightclub security is back in the spotlight after the death of a reveller who was allegedly assaulted in a popular Loop Street establishment.
An incident at the high-end business involved about 45 Congolese men and another group with ties to the security industry, who were apparently armed to the teeth.
Former bouncer boss Andre Naude intervened during this confrontation – he did not mention firearms being present – which involved the Congolese group marching to the club last Wednesday at 6.30pm.
The group had planned to try get money from the club for the funeral of fellow countryman Chico Mbumba, 27.
He died the morning before Easter after a night of partying at the club, during which he was allegedly beaten in a brawl.
Mbumba had been the breadwinner in his family, supporting five siblings and his parents.
He worked as a barman and waiter at various restaurants in Cape Town.
One of those who marched to the Loop Street establishment last Wednesday, Mike Alomba, chairman of the local Congolese community, said they had been ambushed.
This led to the standoff.
“The manager wasn’t there. We fell into a trap. Members of (what looked like a security company) were there,” he said.
“They had all kinds of guns and rifles. They were all around the club, in cars and standing.”
Alomba had recognised Naude, who he identified as a manager of a security company.
They had discussed Mbumba’s death.
Alomba said Mbumba was drunk when he was allegedly assaulted in the club. He died at his Mowbray home hours later in his sleep.
It is believed Mbumba suffered blows to his head; a witness who saw his body said he had scratches and bruises on his face.
Many bouncers in the city centre are Congolese, and Alomba said some were being blamed for Mbumba’s death.
“The Congolese bouncers are very scared. They don’t want to talk out.”
The incident in Loop Street had reminded them who was really in control of security in the city centre.
One of the club’s owners did not want to go on record, nor did he want the club’s name publicised, saying the matter was being investigated by police.
Naude confirmed he arrived at the Loop Street establishment after “about 60 Congolese people pulled up”. He said he was alerted to what was going on and went there.
“I’m not security. I just went there as a friend. The Congolese, I know them for 10 or 20 years.”
Naude had mediated with the group, asking to see a post- mortem report.
This week he said he was told it showed Mbumba died as a result of blows to his head.
Naude confirmed to Weekend Argus there had been an incident inside the club days earlier.
He said Mbumba had tried to follow his girlfriend into a bathroom but men were not allowed into the women’s bathroom for safety reasons.
On Friday a relative of Mbumba, who did not want to be named for safety reasons, said he had heard Mbumba went after his girlfriend into the club bathroom.
She had been in there for a while and the relative said when Mbumba tried to go in after her, an employer at the club stopped him. A fight apparently broke out and Mbumba was injured in the process.
CCTV footage, apparently of part of the incident, showed four burly men carrying a man who was doubled over.
The man, who the relative identified as Mbumba, was held at the waist, head and wrist.
Other footage, captured at 51 minutes past midnight, showed the man falling down stairs and being helped up by someone who looked like a bouncer, who then appeared to escort him out.
The relative, who also marched to the Loop Street establishment last Wednesday, said he had sought CCTV footage of what happened, and some money to get Mbumba’s body back to their home country.
“When we got near Loop Street there were a lot of men with guns leading up to (the club)… It was like a movie. One of the guys inside had on a bullet-proof vest.”
The relative said police arrived at the scene and dispersed the groups.
“We’re caught between two things – opening a case with police or risking another one of us dying. No one is willing to speak out. Everyone is scared.”
On Friday police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said an inquest case had been opened.
Nightclub security in Cape Town has often been synonymous with violence and threats.
This week it also emerged that a high-profile businessman was being probed for possible links to a previous security-related murder in Long Street.
Weekend Argus understands that CCTV footage placed the businessman at the scene about half an hour before the killing.
Murky world of city’s doormen
Nightclub security, particularly in the city centre and its most popular party strip Long Street, has long been a controversial affair. In June Joe Kanyona, 33, a doorman at the Beerhouse, was murdered at the pub’s door in Long Street.
He was stabbed once in the neck. Three men – Ubaid van der Bergh, 20, Toufieq Essa, 21, and Nasbie Edwards, 27 – were arrested and accused of plotting to kill Kanyona.
At the time it was rumoured the murder had to do with a security company trying to force its services on club owners.
Last year former bouncer boss Andre Naude, along with Sea Point businessman Mark Lifman, were acquitted of hundreds of charges after being accused of illegally running the bouncer racket Specialised Protection Services.
This company was an amalgamation of two rival companies, one of which had been run by murdered underworld kingpin Cyril Beeka.
It was launched in 2011 but was shut down months later when it emerged it was allegedly not registered with the Private Security Industry Regulator as required by law.
By the time it closed, Specialised Protection Services dominated the nightclub security scene in Cape Town.
caryn.dolley@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus