Melbourne woman Clare Boadle has paid a tearful tribute to her partner Ludi Vink, who was declared brain dead after a vicious attack last Tuesday near Johannesburg.

Harrowing CCTV footage of the attack was released by local police at the weekend showing the moment Vink was struck.

Backing away in the dark bar with hands raised, Vink appears to be trying to urge calm as the assailant picks up a pool cue from a table and almost casually lashes out.

Vink immediately collapses, the stick apparently lodged into his eye.

His attacker merely turns and walks away. Another man rushes over and pulls the stick from Vink's head.

Vink remained on life support for two days but would never recover - his organs are to be donated so that others may live.

"Today I said goodbye to the love of my life, best friend and soul mate. I'm so glad I got to hold you and kiss you one last time," Ms Boadle posted on Facebook.

"Ludi was declared brain dead after being brutally attacked."

"He was kept alive on life support so that he can donate all of his organs with the first being his heart going straight to a patient in Cape Town. I don't know how I'll do this without you. I love you and I'm yours forever."

Ms Boadle works as a financial adviser, according to her online profile, and lives in Melbourne having originally studied in Perth.

Photos show she spent Christmas in Bali with Vink and the two also spent time last year in Melbourne and Sydney.

Vink was educated in South Africa and was originally from Johannesburg.

Local media in South Africa reported Vink and his mother Danlee went for a drink at the Mitzy's biker club in Randhart, south of Johannesburg, on Tuesday when a fight broke out at the bar.

On Friday a suspect was reported to have handed himself in to local police with his lawyer and would be charged with murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Ms Boadle said a memorial will be held for Vink on Tuesday in Johannesburg.