Cape Town Grindr Gang Case Postponed

The case against three men accused of using the Grindr dating app to kidnap and extort queer men in Cape Town has been postponed once again, highlighting concerns about inefficiencies in the justice system.

Eyewitness News (EWN) reported on Friday that the trial could not proceed because the men’s Zulu translator failed to appear in court.

According to the report, this was due to the translator not being paid by the Department of Justice.

Mlungisi Mbuthu, Bongani Zulu, and Zwelakhe Ngwenya, all from Soweto in Johannesburg, are alleged to have lured their victims into fake dates via Grindr, after which they held them captive, assaulted, and robbed them.

The trio was arrested in June after allegedly targeting a 50-year-old man in Woodstock using the app. Since their arrest, several other victims have come forward, with similar attacks reported in the Cape Town CBD, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Claremont, and Camps Bay.

The accused face charges of kidnapping, extortion, and cybercrime. EWN also revealed that the state plans to add at least 20 new money laundering charges against them.

The suspects have been linked to additional cases in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Zulu and Ngwenya had previously appeared in a related case in Gauteng, where the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities believe the men are part of a national “Grindr gang” syndicate targeting queer men on dating apps.

The matter has been postponed to 30 October.

In Johannesburg, a similar case involving seven men accused of targeting a student via Grindr has also faced numerous delays, with no trial date set – a year after they were arrested.

It’s believed that many Grindr gang incidents go unreported, as victims often fear reprisals, feel ashamed, or may not be out.

Queer individuals are urged to continue to exercise extreme caution when arranging dates with strangers on dating apps and social media platforms.