Justice on Hold: Grindr Gang Trial Stalled Again

The start of the trial for the seven “Grindr Gang” accused in Johannesburg continues to be pushed back over bureaucratic incompetence.

The men appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 30 April. Activists and observers had hoped that the hearing would mark the beginning of their long-overdue trial.

However, proceedings were once again stalled after it was revealed that the appointed prosecutor could not attend due to a scheduling conflict.

A stand-in prosecutor appeared in their place and requested access to the case docket, stating they had not yet been granted disclosure.

All legal representatives for the accused agreed to the request. As a result, the matter has now been postponed to 21 May 2025.

Justice Delayed for the Victim and Accused

Parents, Families and Friends of South African Queers (PFSAQ) and the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) have been closely monitoring the case and regularly attending the court proceedings.

The accused have remained in custody since September 2023 without their trial starting—due to a series of pre-trial delays and apparent legal mismanagement.

For the victim, the ongoing delays mean that justice remains out of reach, likely hindering his ability to find some closure after the traumatic ordeal.

Although the trial was initially scheduled in November 2024 to run from 24 to 27 February 2025, it has yet to get underway.

Serious Allegations of Violence and Extortion

The seven men — Sanele Ndlovu, Vikani Khanyeza, Sohollo Khumalo, Sphamandla Mavundla, Lungisani Mshabalala, Thulani Mazibuko, and Khayelihle Zulu — face charges including kidnapping, attempted murder, and extortion.

They allegedly used the dating app Grindr to lure an 18-year-old Wits University student to a fake date on 19 September 2023. Once he arrived, the group reportedly held him against his will, subjected him to brutal assaults, and demanded a ransom of R30,000 from his family.

Police rescued the student after catching one of the suspects attempting to withdraw ransom money from an ATM. The victim had been so severely beaten that he was hospitalised in ICU and remained in hospital for three months.

Similar incidents in which predominantly queer men are targeted through dating services like Grindr continue to occur across the country.