Johannesburg: The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has urgently warned the public to exercise extreme caution when meeting up with strangers through online dating and social media platforms. This advisory comes in response to alarming reports of kidnappings, robberies, and targeted attacks in the Maboneng precinct.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Portfolio Committee issued a statement on Friday following an unannounced oversight visit to the Jeppe Police Station on Thursday. During this visit, Station Management briefed the Committee on a disturbing trend of victims from across Gauteng being lured to Maboneng via hookup apps, only to be kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted.
The Committee expressed concern over the similarity of these crimes to the Olorato Mongale murder case, where victims were deceived by strangers met in malls or online before being attacked. Of particular concern is the arrest of a gang operating in the Maboneng area that specifically targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Committee condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and calls for heightened vigilance from all citizens.
The Committee also welcomed recent progress in the Olorato Mongale murder case, noting that one of the suspects was killed in a shootout with police in KwaZulu Natal. While commending the police for their breakthroughs, the Committee emphasized that justice must be served for Olorato and all victims of these heinous crimes.
Furthermore, the Committee urged citizens to be vigilant as meeting strangers from online platforms carries serious risks. They advised the public to avoid meeting strangers from apps in isolated or unfamiliar areas, inform trusted contacts about meetup plans, verify identities through video calls before meeting, and immediately report suspicious activity to the South African Police Service (SAPS).