Charges Mount Against Cape Town Grindr Gang Suspects

Several more victims have come forward with accusations against the three Gauteng men arrested in Cape Town for their alleged involvement in a Grindr gang syndicate attack.

Mlungisi Mbuthu, Bongani Zulu, and Zwelakhe Ngwenya from Soweto were apprehended by police last month after targeting a 50-year-old man in the Woodstock area through the dating app.

Another victim, who was held ransom and robbed in the CBD just days earlier, positively identified the three men as his attackers.

As we reported in detail, this second victim was strangled, tied up with his shoelaces and socks, stripped naked, and filmed. The attackers, armed with a gun and a knife, threatened to kill him if he resisted.

The suspects appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

According to EWN, in addition to the Woodstock incident, a total of six other victims have come forward, reporting attacks in the CBD, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Claremont, and Camps Bay. 

In the Camps Bay incident, which dates back to 2023, the victim was robbed of around R100,000.

Of the seven incidents, the suspects have so far been formally charged in connection with two cases, although this is likely to increase. They may also face additional charges under the Cyber Crimes Act.

The suspects have been further linked to cases in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Zulu and Ngwenya had previously appeared in a related pending court case in Gauteng.

South Africa has been plagued by an ongoing epidemic of violent and sometimes deadly abductions and robberies targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community on dating apps and sites for several years.

The unsuspecting victims make dates with criminals who use fake profiles to lure them. When the victims arrive at the agreed location, they are faced with several violent men.

They are held captive, assaulted, and forced to give the criminals access to their bank accounts or ask family and friends for ransom money before being released.

While most victims have reported being targeted through the Grindr dating app, criminals also use other platforms such as Surge and Facebook.

In Johannesburg, seven Grindr gang suspects have been charged with the kidnapping, attempted murder, and extortion of a Wits University student who was targeted on Grindr in September 2023.