The long-delayed trial of the seven men accused in the “Grindr Gang” case has been postponed once more, despite expectations that proceedings would finally begin today in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court.
The accused appeared in court alongside the investigating officer and witnesses, but the hearing could not proceed after it was revealed that the legal representative for accused numbers 5, 6 and 7 was reported ill.
As a result, the matter has been remanded to Wednesday, 20 August 2025.
The seven men, Sanele Ndlovu, Vikani Khanyeza, Sohollo Khumalo, Sphamandla Mavundla, Lungisani Mshabalala, Thulani Mazibuko, and Khayelihle Zulu face charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and extortion.
They allegedly lured an 18-year-old Wits University student to a fake date via the Grindr app in September 2023, before assaulting him and demanding ransom from his family.
The student spent three months in intensive care following the ordeal.
Today’s delay adds to a string of postponements that have plagued the case, leaving both the victim and the accused in limbo.
The repeated setbacks have also raised growing concerns about systemic inefficiencies in South Africa’s justice system, particularly in cases involving vulnerable LGBTQ+ victims.
Civil society groups, including the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), Parents, Families and Friends of South African Queers (PFSAQ), and Access Chapter 2 continue to monitor proceedings and have called for greater urgency in ensuring that justice is not indefinitely delayed.
The trial is now set to continue 20 August, when it is hoped that proceedings will finally move forward without further interruption.
