Seven men accused of kidnapping a student from Wits University and demanding a ransom from his family were denied bail in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said they face additional charges of attempted murder and extortion.
NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, said the seven are accused of luring the student via the dating app, Grindr commonly used within the LGBTQ!+ community.
She says the victim was lured on a date and was eventually held hostage at a hostel in Gauteng.
She said they demanded R30 000 from the student’s family, sending them images of the victim tied up and badly assaulted.
Police arrested one suspect on 19 September when he went to an ATM to withdraw the money.
Mjonondwane said he led the police to the Denver men’s hostel where the Wits student was being held.
There police arrested six more suspects.
The NPA says Sanele Ndlovu, 26, Vikani Khanyeza, 28, Sohollo Khumala, 26, Sphamandla Mavundla, 33, Lungisani mShabalala, 33, Thulani Mazibuko, 23 and Khayelihle Zulu, 24, will be back in court on the 15th of November.
Mjonondwane says the State argued that it was not in the interest of justice to be released on bail as they posed a threat to the victim and his family.
She says the NPA welcomed the bail outcome.
