Cape Town
By Thobeka Makume
The Cape Town Magistrates Court has postponed the case against three men accused of kidnapping and extorting gay men in Cape Town to 6 June 2025. The trio, identified as Mlungisi Mbutu, Bongani Zulu, and Zwelakhe Ngwenya, allegedly used the dating app Grindr to lure their victims under false pretences. They were arrested in June 2024 following the kidnapping of a 50-year-old man in Woodstock and are suspected of carrying out a series of similar crimes across the city.
Case Details and Court Appearance
The three accused, all from Soweto in Gauteng, made a brief appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates Court via video link from prison on Friday. The postponement to 6 June 2025 was granted to allow the State to finalise its investigation and prepare additional charges. The trio remains in custody, having been linked to multiple incidents of kidnapping and extortion targeting gay men.
Alleged Crimes and Modus Operandi
The accused are suspected of orchestrating a string of robberies using Grindr, a popular dating app within the LGBTQ+ community. It’s alleged that they created fake profiles to entice unsuspecting victims, arranging meetups in various parts of Cape Town. Once the victims arrived, they were reportedly kidnapped, held against their will, and forced to pay ransoms or transfer money to the perpetrators. In some instances, the trio is said to have extorted funds from the victims’ families as well.
The incidents allegedly occurred in several areas across Cape Town, including:
• Woodstock
• Cape Town CBD
• Camps Bay
• Durbanville
• BrackenfellThe trio’s arrest in June 2024 came after authorities linked them to the kidnapping of a 50-year-old man in Woodstock, which sparked a broader investigation into their activities.
New Charges on the Horizon
In addition to the existing kidnapping and extortion charges, the State has revealed plans to add at least 20 new counts of money laundering against Mbutu, Zulu, and Ngwenya. These charges are based on financial transactions allegedly tied to the extortion payments extracted from their victims. The expansion of the case highlights the complexity of the investigation, which continues to uncover evidence of the trio’s criminal activities.
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