On the Delays and Ongoing Threat Posed by the Grindr 7 Syndicate
Johannesburg – 14 August 2025 – We, the undersigned queer organisations, are deeply alarmed and frustrated by the continued delays in the prosecution of the “Grindr 7” case (Hillbrow CAS 523/09/2023), in which seven accused are charged with the abduction, brutal assault, and extortion of a young queer person in Johannesburg.
Since the arrest of the seven accused in September 2023, this matter has been repeatedly postponed — with hearings delayed for months due to legal representation issues, procedural backlogs, and administrative inefficiencies. After nearly two years, the case is finally scheduled for trial from 18 August 2025 to 20 August 2025.
This case is not just about one incident. It amplifies the ongoing and deliberate targeting of the LGBTIQ+ community by a well-organised criminal syndicate using dating and social media apps, most commonly Grindr, to lure victims under the guise of romantic or social meetings. Once trapped, victims are subjected to violence, robbery, and in some cases, sexual assault.
The persistence of these attacks over more than a decade reflects not only the brutality of the perpetrators but also the systemic negligence of state institutions that continue to treat violence against queer people as peripheral and non-urgent. Similar patterns and incidents have been reported in other provinces, and, in some cases, the victims have been murdered, with others kidnapped and still missing. Yet there is little evidence of a coordinated effort by law enforcement to investigate and dismantle this network.
In the few instances where cases reach the courts, the drawn-out legal process not only prolongs the trauma of the victim and their loved ones but also emboldens these criminals. Every delay sends a dangerous message: that queer lives are expendable, that crimes against us can be dragged through the courts until they fade from public attention, and that organised violence against our community can continue unchecked.
Such inaction corrodes public trust in the justice system and sends a chilling message that queer lives can be violated without consequence.
We call for:
- The urgent prioritisation of the Grindr 7 case and an end to unnecessary postponements.
- A coordinated SAPS investigation across provinces into syndicates targeting queer people through dating apps.
- The immediate enactment of the Hate Crimes Act to ensure targeted crimes against the LGBTIQ+ community — such as those committed by the Grindr 7 — are recognised, prosecuted, and punished with the seriousness they deserve, alongside adequate protection and psychosocial support for victims.
- Public awareness campaigns to alert queer communities about these targeted crimes and how to reduce risk while using online platforms.
- Specialised training for SAPS officers, prosecutors, and court officials on LGBTIQ+ rights, safety, and trauma-informed handling of cases involving targeted violence – including the creation of dedicated liaison officers for queer-related crimes in every province.
Justice delayed is justice denied — and every delay places more queer people at risk. The Grindr 7 trial must be a turning point in dismantling organised violence against our community, and not just another date in a long chain of postponements.
Signed: Access Chapter 2; Forum for the Empowerment of Women; GALA Queer Archive; MambaOnline; OUT LGBT Well-Being; PFSAQ; Wits Activate
For more information: Lwazi Mazibuko: lwazimazibuko@pfsaq.org | 062 541 8360