The matter against seven men called the "Grindr gang" has been postponed for the final leg of investigation, which will be an identity parade. They appeared briefly at the Johannesburg Magistrates Court today on charges of robbery and assault GBH.
The accused allegedly robbed and assaulted a Wits University student, Tsietsi Cetele, who ended in intensive care unit for months after the gang lured him via the dating site. State prosecutor Tshepo Mzizi said they were in their final stages of investigations. "We have made an application to have the accused moved to Hilbrow SAPS for six days for the purpose of conducting an identity parade which is the last leg of investigations so that we can proceed with the trial," he said.
The gang members were arrested in September last year in Denver after they allegedly kidnapped Cetele by luring him through the Grindr dating app. He was reported missing the same day by his roommate and the suspects demanded R30 000 ransom from his family for his safe return. At the time, national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said a team comprising of members of Gauteng Crime Intelligence, other police units and several security companies arrested one of the suspects when he attempted to withdraw the ransom money at an ATM. "He then led the team to Denver Men's Hostel where the victim, aged 18, was found bound and unconscious. Six more suspects were arrested at the hostel and the victim was rushed to hospital for medical attention," Mathe said. She added that the suspects were linked to at least 85 cases where the LGBTQI+ community were targeted for ransom payments.
Grindr 7 gang back in court!
— Yaya Mavundla (@YayaRSA) February 6, 2024
They will appear again on the 12th of Feb 2024 at court 23, Johannesburg Magistrates Court. Please come support #LGBTIQ #Grindr #GrindrProblems #Kidnapping #Queer #Danger pic.twitter.com/VOAr2EBZSr
Transgender activist Yaya Mavundla, who has been following the matter religiously, said it was time for the government to step up and protect the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. "We live in fear because there are people preying on us seeking to victimise us, yet we've done nothing to them. At least today we received good news that the victim is ready to speak and will again have to identify the perpetrators. We are glad that they were caught because so many of them have gotten away with this, we need the law to send a strong message using them as an example so these stops. It's been unfortunate that a lot of LGBTQIA suffered at the hands of homophobes," said Mavundla.
THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN
Virginia Magwaza, who leads an organisation called Parents, families and friends of LGBTQIA said she came to support the victim in his absence. "We live in a modern society where everyone has the right to fully express themselves as best fit for them. This was a gruesome incident that no one should experience. This young man had hope to meet a partner but instead he was lured to danger and he could have died. Why would they beat up a defenceless person the way they did," she said. In a statement, Cetele said he agreed to meet the man who he was chatting with at Jabulani Shell Garage next to Jabulani Mall. "He asked if we could take a walk. He had two other guys following us while we walked. I saw the guys too late, and that's when they started beating me and dragged me into the bush. They started beating me and it was terrible. They asked me to switch on my phone and wanted to go into my bank account and started hitting me again," he said. The matter will be back in court next week Monday.
