The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has issued an urgent warning to the public about the dangers of meeting strangers via online dating and social media platforms.
This follows alarming reports of kidnappings, robberies, and assaults, particularly in the Maboneng area, where people, often from the LGBTQIA+ community, are lured through hookup apps and attacked.
The warning comes after an unannounced oversight visit to Jeppe Police Station, where the committee was briefed on these incidents.
“The Committee expressed concern that these crimes follow a similar pattern to the Olorato Mongale murder case, where victims are deceived by strangers they meet in malls or online before being attacked.
“Of particular concern is the recent arrest of a gang operating in the Maboneng area that specifically targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual]community. The Committee condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and calls for heightened vigilance from all citizens,” a statement read.
The committee referenced the Olorato murder case as an example of this growing trend and welcomed recent developments, including a suspect being killed during a police shootout.
While commending police efforts, the committee emphasised the need for justice and urged the public to take safety precautions, such as avoiding isolated meet-up spots, informing others of plans, verifying identities via video calls, and reporting suspicious behaviour to the police.
“For their safety, the Committee advises the public to avoid meeting strangers from apps in isolated or unfamiliar areas, inform trusted contacts about meet up plans, verify identities through video calls before meeting, and immediately report suspicious activity to the South African Police Service (SAPS),” the Committee said.
First published by African Insider
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Also see: The dynamics of online dating
