South Africa’s Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster has publicly identified Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyama, a Zimbabwean businessman and founder of Moriel Infrastructure Group, as the man seen in widely shared videos threatening women at VLAMO Restaurant in Sandton Gate, Johannesburg. Authorities are urging the women in the footage to come forward and open criminal cases. No formal charges have been filed, as victims have not yet come forward.
A viral restaurant confrontation has escalated into an official government appeal, after South African authorities took the unusual step of publicly naming the man at the center of it.
What the Videos Show
Footage circulating widely on social media shows a man confronting women at VLAMO Restaurant in Sandton Gate, Johannesburg, and making serious threats of violence, including statements about shooting and killing them. In the clips, he appears to react after being rejected, continuing to speak aggressively while the women record the interaction.
South Africa’s Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster shared the videos publicly and identified the man as Lawrence Chamurwa Mudzinganyama, a Zimbabwean national and the founder and Executive Chairman of Moriel Infrastructure Group. Following the identification, Mudzinganyama reportedly deleted his LinkedIn account.
INTIMIDATION | The victims in these video clips are encouraged to come forward and open criminal cases against the ruffian seen threatening women with being shot and killed.
The matter may enable the Designated Firearms Officer (DFO) to institute a Section 102 procedure under… pic.twitter.com/IFp9wMkSaT
— Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (@CrimeWatch_RSA) September 19, 2026
Why Authorities Are Asking Victims to Come Forward
Officials say a formal complaint from the women involved could set a specific legal process in motion. Under Section 102 of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, a Designated Firearms Officer can begin proceedings that could potentially see Mudzinganyama declared unfit to possess a firearm, with any existing firearm licence, competency certificate, or permit suspended or cancelled.
That process, however, depends on the victims actually opening a case. Under South African law, police generally need a complainant to formally report an incident before many investigative and regulatory steps can move forward. Publicly naming Mudzinganyama appears to be a deliberate strategy by authorities to help locate the women involved so a full criminal investigation can begin.
In their statement, officials emphasized that threats of violence — particularly against women — must be taken seriously and reported, regardless of who is making them.
Where Things Stand
As of the most recent updates, no formal charges have been filed against Mudzinganyama, specifically because the women seen in the videos have not yet come forward to open cases. Authorities continue to appeal directly to those women, and to anyone else who witnessed the incident, to contact police.
Anyone involved or with information about the incident is encouraged to report it to their nearest police station or the relevant authorities so the matter can be properly investigated.
