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“You’re nobodies” – Man accused of threatening to shoot women after alleged rejection
A Johannesburg man has been called out on social media after a video appeared to show him confronting women inside a restaurant bathroom and allegedly threatening to shoot them.
The video, which was shared widely on X on Friday night, shows a man identified online only as “Lawrence” speaking aggressively to women. In the footage, he appears to tell them that he will shoot them and that they are “nobodies”.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation have not been independently established, and it has not been confirmed whether a firearm was present or whether a police case has been opened.
The allegations have nevertheless sparked concern, particularly against the backdrop of renewed national attention on violence against women.
What happened in the restaurant bathroom
According to a post accompanying the video, the man allegedly followed a woman, her sister and an aunt into the powder room after being rejected.
The original post, from an X account using the name Bavaria, said: “Last night the person seen in this video follows my girlfriend, her sister and the aunt into the powder room. He gets rejected multiple times then he proceeds to threaten the ladies.”
The account identified the man as “Lawrence” and appealed for information about him.
The video itself appears to show the man standing inside the bathroom area while speaking to the women in an intimidating manner. At one point, he appears to threaten to shoot them and tells them they are nobodies.
These claims have not been independently verified, and the identity of the man has not been confirmed by police.
The video was subsequently amplified by actor Tumisho Masha, who called for the man to be identified.
“Here’s a man threatening to shoot women just coz they didn’t want him,” Masha wrote.
He further alleged that the man believed he could avoid consequences because he knew the owner of Ukkō Restaurant and lived in Steyn City.
“Men like these can longer be allowed to live freely amongst us. Please make him trend and let’s find him,” Masha added.
There is currently no independent confirmation of Masha’s claims about the man’s relationship with the restaurant owner, his residence or whether those factors had any bearing on the incident.
The restaurant connection
The incident has been associated online with Ukkō Restaurant in Bryanston, Johannesburg.
Ukkō is located at the Nicolway Shopping Centre and is owned by restaurateur Mun Manal. News24 previously reported that Manal opened the restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic after years working in the hospitality industry.
The restaurant’s official contact information places it at Shop U24, Nicolway Shopping Centre, Bryanston, Sandton.
However, there is no verified evidence at this stage establishing that the restaurant owner intervened in, witnessed or was otherwise involved in the alleged confrontation.
The allegations should therefore be treated as allegations until the people involved or law enforcement provide further information.
The timing has intensified public concern
The incident comes as South Africa is confronting another wave of anger and fear over violence against women.
Police confirmed on 17 September that the body of a ninth woman had been discovered in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni, bringing to nine the number of women’s bodies found in the area over a two-month period.
The killings have prompted a major police investigation into whether some or all of the cases could be connected.
Police have stressed that they have not confirmed that a serial killer is responsible. Investigators are examining similarities between the cases while considering different possibilities, including separate perpetrators.
The deaths have also resulted in increased police visibility and a multidisciplinary investigative team being deployed in the affected areas.
The ninth victim had not yet been identified when police issued their statement.
South Africa’s wider femicide crisis
The Ekurhuleni killings have once again placed South Africa’s broader gender-based violence and femicide crisis under the spotlight.
In November 2025, the National Disaster Management Centre classified gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act. The classification placed responsibility on the National Executive to coordinate the national response.
The current crisis extends well beyond the nine Ekurhuleni cases.
Police crime data cited by AP shows that 5,427 homicides were recorded nationally between April and July 2026 – an average of roughly 45 killings a day. South Africa has also consistently recorded exceptionally high levels of violence against women, with available research placing its femicide rate among the highest internationally.
The South African Medical Research Council has previously documented the scale of violence against women, while UN data has also highlighted South Africa’s unusually high levels of lethal violence against women.
Rejection, entitlement and threats
The allegations surrounding the restaurant incident have also reignited conversations about the way rejection, entitlement and threats can intersect with gender-based violence.
Importantly, the claim that the man was rejected and subsequently became threatening comes from the social-media account that posted the video. It has not been independently established.
If the account is accurate, however, the allegation raises concerns about the escalation from unwanted attention to intimidation and threats.
South African police have repeatedly urged members of the public not to circulate unverified accusations or incorrectly identify people as suspects. This is particularly relevant while the video continues to spread online.
In its response to the Ekurhuleni killings, SAPS specifically warned the public against circulating unverified information and said credible information should instead be provided to investigators.
At this stage, the man seen in the video should therefore not be described as a criminal or accused of a confirmed offence without confirmation from investigators or a court.
The video, however, has already become part of a much larger national conversation – one in which women are questioning how threats, intimidation and violence can be confronted before they escalate into something more serious.
Economy
Kaya 959 turns up the heat as Chefs & Chenin talent cooks live on air
Kaya 959 is bringing the flavours of the inaugural Chefs & Chenin Festival to its listeners, with some of the chefs taking over the station for a live cooking experience ahead of the two-day culinary celebration.
Chef Mahalia Jackson, Jacques Venter, Chef Tebogo Morgan and Saviour Moyo will be showcasing their culinary skills on air, giving listeners a taste of what they can expect when Chefs & Chenin takes place at Crawford International Sandton College on 26 and 27 September 2026.
The festival is presented in partnership with Kaya 959 and celebrates two distinctly South African passions – cooking over fire and Chenin Blanc.
Bringing the festival to Kaya 959
The live cooking sessions give Kaya 959 listeners an opportunity to get closer to the chefs and the food that will form part of the festival experience.
Rather than simply talking about what is coming, the chefs are putting their skills on display in the Kaya 959 studio, building anticipation for a weekend where food will be cooked over open flames and paired with South Africa’s much-loved Chenin Blanc.
The festival is designed as a celebration of food, wine, music and local creativity, with a Harvest Market, live entertainment, kids’ activities and an art exhibition also forming part of the programme.
Meet the chefs
Chef Mahalia Jackson brings more than three decades of experience in the culinary industry to the line-up. She is an executive chef, entrepreneur and published author, and has been the managing director of Added Touch Catering & Events since 2005.
Her career has included major corporate events and high-profile gatherings, with Jackson also having served guests including former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki and international diplomats. She is also the author of Dare to Dream, a recipe book and memoir which won an African Authors Award in the Food Category.
Jacques Venter has built a career across different parts of Johannesburg’s culinary scene. According to his Chefs & Chenin profile, he began his career in 2003 as a commis chef at The Castle Kyalami before progressing to sous chef.
His experience has included fine dining at Roots restaurant at Forum Homini, work at Coco C in Bloemfontein and a stint at the Radisson Blu Sandton, where he worked his way up to executive sous chef. Since 2019, he has been part of the Pick n Pay group as a food specialist at Pick n Pay on Nicol and Thyme restaurant.
Chef Tebogo Morgan, the chef behind CRAVINGS, Gourmet Rainbow Cuisine, brings a fusion approach to the festival. Born in Mthatha and raised in Johannesburg, Morgan trained through the International Chef Management Diploma at Capsicum Culinary Studio in Cape Town.
His culinary style, which he describes as “Fire & Fusion”, brings together Asian and Mediterranean influences with open-fire cooking.
Saviour Moyo, who is also associated with Saint Restaurant Sandton, rounds out the group of chefs appearing as part of the Kaya 959 activation.
More than just food
Chefs & Chenin is being positioned as an experience rather than a conventional food festival.
General access tickets include a tasting meal at a pop-up restaurant of the guest’s choice, where chefs will showcase their food through live-fire cooking. There will also be curated Chenin Blanc tastings, alongside the Harvest Market, live music and entertainment for children.
The festival’s focus on open-fire cooking also taps into a familiar South African food tradition, while the Chenin Blanc element highlights one of the country’s most important wine varieties.
With Kaya 959 providing the radio platform and the chefs bringing the food to life on air, the build-up is giving audiences a preview of what awaits at Crawford International Sandton College.
Chefs & Chenin takes place on 26 and 27 September 2026. Tickets are available through Webtickets.
