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The Hidden Cost of Public Humiliation: Why We Must Prioritize Healing Over Punishment
By Bongani Skosana
The recent incident at Zanzou nightclub in Hatfield, Pretoria, where young men were publicly humiliated and assaulted by bouncers has left many of us shocked and outraged. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly a person’s dignity can be stripped away.
Yes, those responsible must be held accountable. But we also need to ask: What about the victims? How do they heal from this?
Public Humiliation leaves scars that aren’t visible
Being humiliated in public isn’t just an embarrassing moment that people can “get over.” It’s a form of psychological violence that can stay with someone for a lifetime.
When a person is shamed, degraded, and stripped of their dignity in front of others, the impact is deep. Research shows that public humiliation can lead to anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and even destructive behaviour.
For young men, the damage can be even worse. Society teaches them to be tough, resilient, and in control, but when they are publicly humiliated, they can feel powerless, ashamed, and unworthy. Some withdraw from social spaces, while others turn to unhealthy ways of coping.
We need to remember that justice isn’t just about punishing the guilty, it’s about restoring dignity and supporting the healing process.
Justice Shouldn’t Stop at Punishment
There’s no question that those who abuse their power must face consequences. But if we only focus on punishment, we miss the bigger picture. True justice is about:
- Holding people accountable for their actions.
- Supporting the victims, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
- Creating lasting change so this never happens again.
Instead of just firing a few security guards and moving on, we should be asking: What can we do to prevent this from happening again?
What real change looks like
This issue isn’t just about one nightclub or one group of bouncers. It’s about a bigger problem in our society, one that requires action from all of us.
- Nightclubs & Security Firms must step up
- Security staff must be trained to handle conflicts with professionalism and respect.
- Clubs and security firms should be held to higher ethical standards to prevent abuses of power.
- The Justice System must take this seriously
- Law enforcement must respond swiftly and treat cases of public humiliation as serious offenses.
- Courts should recognize the psychological harm caused by these incidents, not just the physical harm.
- We, as a community, must change how we respond
- We must stop normalizing violence and public humiliation as a way of handling disputes.
- Families and mentors must guide young men towards healthy ways of dealing with conflict, without resorting to violence or shame.
Let’s choose dignity over humiliation
Public humiliation is not justice. It only leads to more pain, more trauma, and more broken people. If we truly want to break the cycle, we must:
- Prioritize mental health and emotional support for victims.
- Push for real accountability and ethical training in the security industry.
- Build a culture that values dignity, fairness, and rehabilitation over revenge.
Let’s not just react to injustice, let’s take real steps toward a future where human dignity is always protected.