Four men have each been sentenced to an effective 15 years' imprisonment for using fake profiles on the Grindr dating app to lure victims before kidnapping and robbing them in Ballito, Umhlanga and Durban North.
The Durban Regional Court handed down the sentences on Wednesday following a series of attacks that took place over several months in 2023.
The court heard that the group created fraudulent profiles on the location-based dating app, primarily used by gay and bisexual men, to arrange meetings with unsuspecting victims at hotels and guesthouses under the guise of romantic dates.
When the victims arrived, they were ambushed, assaulted, tied up and robbed of their valuables, including bank cards and PIN numbers. While some members of the gang guarded the victims, others withdrew money from their bank accounts before fleeing.
Investigators linked the suspects to several similar incidents. However, only three cases were prosecuted after a number of victims declined to pursue criminal charges for personal reasons.
Khumdulani Ngubane and Nkanyiso Ndebele were each convicted on three counts of kidnapping and three counts of robbery, while Celimpilo Nkomo and Mzwemvelo Ngubane were each convicted on one count of kidnapping and one count of robbery.
Although the cumulative sentences imposed amounted to 57 years for Khumdulani Ngubane and Nkanyiso Ndebele, and 19 years for Nkomo and Mzwemvelo Ngubane, the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective prison term of 15 years for each of the four men.
According to Marshall Security Special Operations manager Zandré Grobler, the security company first became aware of the gang's activities in July 2023.
The suspects were arrested later that year after Marshall Security's Special Operations Team responded to reports of suspects fleeing a hotel in Umhlanga. Following a high-speed chase along the N2, the four men were apprehended and handed over to Durban North police.
Grobler commended Ethekwini District Task Team detective Constable Siphosenkosi Shezi for his role in investigating the case and securing the convictions.
Marshall Security has urged users of dating applications to exercise caution by arranging first meetings in public places, informing someone of their whereabouts and reporting any suspicious activity to the police.