Four men have each been sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment for luring victims through the Grindr dating app – a location-based app primarily used by gay and bisexual men – before kidnapping and robbing them in Ballito, Umhlanga and Durban North.

The Durban Regional Court handed down the sentences on Wednesday, July 15, following a crime spree that spanned several months in 2023.

Although investigators uncovered numerous additional incidents, only three cases were prosecuted after several victims declined to lay charges for personal reasons.

Khumdulani Ngubane and Nkanyiso Ndebele were convicted on three counts each of kidnapping and robbery. Celimpilo Nkomo and Mzwemvelo Ngubane were each convicted on one count of kidnapping and one count of robbery.

While the cumulative sentences amounted to 57 years for Ngubane and Ndebele and 19 years for Nkomo and Mzwemvelo Ngubane, the court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in effective 15-year prison terms for all four men.

Marshall Security Special Operations manager Zandré Grobler said the gang created fake Grindr profiles to lure men to hotels and guesthouses under the guise of dates.

Once the victims arrived, they were ambushed, assaulted, tied up and robbed of valuables, including bank cards and PINs. While some gang members guarded the victims, others withdrew cash from their accounts before fleeing.

Marshall Security first became aware of the gang in July 2023. The suspects were arrested later that year after the company’s Special Operations Team responded to reports of robbers fleeing a hotel in Umhlanga. Following a high-speed chase along the N2, all four men were arrested and handed over to Durban North Saps.

Grobler praised Ethekwini District Task Team detective constable Siphosenkosi Shezi for his role in securing the convictions.

Marshall Security urged users of dating apps to meet in public places, inform someone of their plans and report suspicious behaviour to police.