Cape Town - Three men have appeared in Cape Town Magistrate’s Court for various crimes related to the Grindr dating app for gays.
Mlungisi Vincent Mbutu, Bongani Zulu and Zwelakhe Ngwenya are accused of luring Grindr users for the purpose of robbing them.
They were arrested on June 14 in Woodstock as they had a 50-year-old hostage tied up in a rental home. Six more cases were added to the matter.
On Friday during their appearance State advocate Luzaan Williams revealed that a new victim from Camps Bay had come forward.
The case dates back to 2023 when the man chatted with the accused who are originally from Gauteng via Grindr.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “We now have a new case of Camps Bay. It’s actually not a new case, it’s from 2023. The victim and the accused were chatting on the app and he was invited to a hotel.
“He went and then he was kidnapped, tied up and then they took money, R100,000 from his bank account. That is the modus operandi. We expect that once the media are able to show their faces, more victims will come, if there are more.”
Ntabazalila said at the moment they have seven victims, four in Cape Town (district court), two in Durbanville and Brackenfell and the other in Wynberg.
“We have asked the court to centralise all and to appear in Cape Town, so we don’t have to go to different courts. They are facing kidnapping, extortion, and robbery with aggravating circumstances charges. We have added a new cybercrime charge, we have drafted an interim charge sheet.
“What is interesting about this case is that as the investigation keeps going on, more and more victims are coming forward.
“The investigation is still open and we expect more charges added towards the accused, and victims to come forward.”
On Wednesday two of the accused, Zulu and Ngwenya, appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court for a Durbanville case and they will be back on July 24.
Shortly after they were arrested, the Hawks charged the accused, after a victim was also kidnapped and forced to call his sister and ask for money.
Williams said only one ID parade was outstanding and it was expected to take place today (Saturday).
Their lawyer, Nceba Jack, said his clients would apply for bail.
“We have seen quite a lot of charges, and they are entitled to add as many. Whether they will be able to prove that or not is something else. We will allow them to do their investigation.
“The case is postponed to the next court date for their bail application. My clients intend to plead not guilty.”
The case was postponed until August 1 for bail application.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za