Dating app kidnappings and extortion are on the rise in South Africa A trans woman says she was kidnapped at gunpoint after meeting a man on Tinder, amid a rise in dating app kidnappings and extortion targeting the LGBTQ+ community. talk.
South African LGBTQ+ activist Tubsee Mabezane said she was aware of the importance of safety when she met a man on Tinder in Johannesburg earlier this year.
Mabezane told Reuters that she wanted to meet the man in a public place rather than at her home to protect herself, but was abducted at gunpoint from the meeting point.
The trans activist said during the “shocking” incident that she was taken to an abandoned building where her four kidnappers demanded she call her friends and ask them to send money.
After holding her for several hours, a friend Mabezane called, a traditional healer, managed to convince her to release her without ransom. Mami did not report the incident for fear that people would not believe her.
Incidents like Mabezane’s are on the rise in South Africa, where police and activists say LGBTQ+ people are often targeted due to hatred and intolerance.
Atrenda Mate, national spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS), said: “SAPS is aware of the trend of criminals targeting unsuspecting individuals on social media networks, including dating apps.” Stated.
“We have arrested and destroyed several syndicates targeting the gay and lesbian community.”
“The safety of our members is of the utmost importance,” a Tinder spokesperson said. The platform encourages users to report any crimes to local law enforcement.
Local security firm Vision Tactical says there has been an “alarming increase” in incidents of gay men being lured into places where they are physically assaulted, robbed or taken hostage in South Africa using dating app Grindr. called for a ban.
In September, an 18-year-old student was kidnapped in Johannesburg after meeting someone on Grindr. Police later confirmed that he was rescued and seven suspects were arrested.
A Grindr spokesperson told Reuters that the company is “acutely aware of this deeply disturbing situation” regarding the kidnapping of people who used the app to meet others and is currently working on solutions to resolve the crisis. He said he is looking for.
In 2019, a 13-year-old British boy was raped or sexually abused by at least 21 men he met on dating apps such as Grindr and Badoo, a Sunday Times investigation revealed. Ta.
This popular app already has safety features available, including a video calling feature that helps users verify that the profiles they’re communicating with are legitimate.
Despite her horrifying experience, Mabezane does not believe that banning dating apps used by the queer community is the solution, as it would further marginalize LGBTQ+ people.
“I don’t think there’s a need to ban[Grindr],” she said. “So straight people can use these apps and find love and have fun, but you can’t do that because you’re queer or gay.
“There’s an equality issue there.”
Rape crisis England and Wales is committed to ending sexual violence. If you were affected by the issues raised in this article, you can access more information through the following links: their website Or call the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Scotland’s rape crisis The helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
If you are a reader in the United States, please contact us. rain, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.