The murder of Johannesburg researcher Steven Gruzd in March could be linked to so-called Grindr gang criminals, according to a report by the Daily Maverick.
Gruzd, 53, went missing on Friday, 27 March, after leaving for a meeting in Corlett Gardens. Following a police investigation, officers arrested five suspects and recovered Gruzd’s body the next day at George Goch Hostel in Jeppestown.
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), where he headed the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme, described him as “a globally respected international relations expert and a steadfast proponent of good governance across Africa.”
Thabiso Ngcongco, Nkosenhle Zuma, Siyanda Mzolo, Buhle Zuma and Nsikelelo Njali have pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Report suggests possible Grindr connection
The Daily Maverick has reported that court details indicate Gruzd “met his assailants at an Airbnb in Corlett Gardens, Johannesburg, which they had booked and paid for, and where the murder allegedly took place.”
The Daily Maverick also cited a Johannesburg source who claimed to have known Gruzd and said that he was “very active” on the dating app.
The circumstances echo other incidents in which criminals have allegedly used queer dating apps such as Grindr to lure people to guest houses, where they rob, assault and, in some cases, murder them.
A recent high-profile case involved the murder of emergency medical services worker Braam Krüger in Pretoria in April.
Family condemns speculation about murder
The Daily Maverick article may have effectively outed Gruzd, raising difficult questions about privacy.
In response to the report, his family, which includes his wife and two children, urged the media to avoid speculation about his murder and condemned “sensationalist articles like this…”.
Writing on X, the article’s author, Naledi Mashishi, defended the decision to publish the story, suggesting that its public interest value justified the reporting.
“This was a difficult story to write because I hate outing people, however I wrote it because the circumstances behind this murder share strong similarities behind similar Grindr related incidents. The victim was very active on Grindr as well,” said Mashishi.
Grindr-related crimes raise ongoing concerns
MambaOnline has reported on Grindr gang incidents across the country for years, with cases reported most frequently in Johannesburg, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal.
The scale of the problem is believed to be much greater than reported, as many survivors may fear being outed, facing stigma or experiencing further discrimination if they report these crimes.
The trial of seven men accused of using Grindr to target and severely assault a Johannesburg student is ongoing. Proceedings are also continuing in the case involving five suspects accused in connection with Krüger’s murder.
Dating app users urged to take precautions
Users of dating apps are urged to exercise caution when arranging to meet people they have encountered online. Precautions include meeting for the first time in a public place and sharing their location with a trusted friend.
