Grindr Gang attack: new victim tells his story

Grindr Gang attack: new victim tells his storyDespite recent arrests, we can confirm that gay and bi men are still being actively targeted through Grindr and other dating apps

by Mambaonline.com

07-03-2023 10:09

in LGBTQIA

The so-called Grindr Gang has been targeting gay, bisexual and queer men in Gauteng for years. Photo: Mambaonline

A young Johannesburg man was beaten and attacked by the Grindr Gang in late February

At least three new cases took place AFTER police arrested four suspects

The LGBTIQ community is warned to continue to use dating apps with caution

Despite recent arrests, we can confirm that gay and bi men are still being actively targeted through Grindr and other dating apps after a new victim came forward to recount his harrowing ordeal.

--

Jason (not his real name) became a victim of dating app criminals - dubbed the Grindr Gang by some - on Friday 24 February after the 24-year-oldarranged to meet a man that he'd started chatting to on Grindr the previous day.

ALSO READ: Botswana: Yoga teacher creating queer safe spaces

The location he received took him to a sports field in the south of Johannesburg, whereafter he was directed to an apartment complex. He found the man, a white South African, waiting for him outside.

--

The two walked up to the apartment, where Jason noted that of the three rooms, only one door was open.

We entered the room and I immediately felt uncomfortable, Jason tells Mamba. It was dark. He sat at the top of the bed, and I sat close to the edge of the bed. Becoming increasingly uncomfortable, Jason decided to leave. Three seconds later he was strangling me, says Jason, and screaming, you're not leaving, you're being robbed!

At that point two other men, who Jason believes were Nigerian, entered the room. They took off my Apple watch, my phone and my wallet. They threw me onto the carpet floor, head down. One of the guys was on my back. They had knives about 45cm long. They beat me up, physically and with the weapons.

The men then demanded the password to his phone and the pins for the bank cards in his wallet.

ALSO READ: Uganda: Ramaphosa welcomes Museveni despite new anti-LGBTIQ bill

--

They were also demanding R100,000 to R200,000 ransom. I asked them who I should call, I could call my parents if they wanted. At first, they said yes then they quickly said no. When he couldn't remember the pin for one of his bank cards, the men assaulted him.

It still hurts me that that's what I went through that I almost lost my life. They pulled my pants off as well as my shoes - I felt like I was going to be raped, recounts Jason. With the shock and trauma, I peed myself. They pushed me against the wall and the two men pulled their knives towards my dick and said if I didn't do what they asked they would cut it off. I was crying but I was told not to talk loudly, or I'd be beaten again.

At least three new cases took place AFTER police arrested four suspects One of the Nigerians and the South African then left the apartment with Jason's bank cards and withdrew R28,000 from his account.

ALSO READ: Animal sighting: Lion unsure of crossing a crocodile infested river- [Video]

In the meantime, the remaining assailant in the room continued to threaten him with a knife.

He started telling me about how we are brothers and mentioned that kidnapping is real and asked if I had heard of trafficking. It went through my mind that I might not leave there alive. He also mentioned how he had paid for everything that the South African guy had gotten in life.

The two other men returned, and there was talk of stealing Jason's car, but they decided against it.

The South African warned Jason that they'd put a tracker in his vehicle and that if he did anything stupid when he left, they would find him and kill him.

Jason was given his wallet back without his bank cards and the three men walked out. In a somewhat bizarre twist, a woman, who he was told was the South African's mother, then came into the room.

She sat on the edge of the bed and said to me that I'm very cute. It was very silent after that. I asked if she had a Panado [pain tablet] to which she replied that they didn't have the money to buy it. The woman then told him that he could leave.

I was so scared to move because the men had told me not to leave. She took her phone and phoned her son, and she asked him if it was okay for me to leave. It was on speaker, and he said to me, yes you can leave, fucker'.

The woman then escorted Jason out of the building. He walked to a nearby petrol station where the men had left his car and he drove to a friend's house.

ALSO READ: Millions in Gauteng are unemployed

Jason went on to report the attack to the police and accompanied officers to the apartment where the mother was arrested.

It was revealed, however, that the woman is not the man's mother.

Jason is still unable to explain the nature of the relationships between the four individuals involved in his ordeal and how they are connected.

The investigation is ongoing, and he is receiving trauma counselling.

The Saturday, the Sunday and then the Monday it was really emotionally draining because I cried a lot, he says. Having gone for trauma counselling, I'm doing a lot better. But it still hurts me that that's what I went through. It hurts me that I almost lost my life.

Three cases, including Jason's attack, took place in the last few weeks; after the arrests On 16 February, police announced the arrest of four suspects in connection with a similar incident.

It was hoped that this would finally bring the Grindr Gang dating attacks that have plagued the LGBTIQ community for years to an end.

LGBTIQ community is warned to continue to use dating apps with caution It's now b

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/lgbtqia/grindr-gang-attack-new...
	See more stories from thesouthafrican

Most recent headlines