SAPS warns online daters after Kempton Park cases of robbery and sexual assault

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has urged caution for people using dating apps and social media after Kempton Park police recorded about 10 cases in which victims allegedly met others online before being robbed or sexually assaulted.

What police have said

Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana described the incidents as a worrying pattern and advised users to take basic safety precautions when meeting someone for the first time.

“When meeting someone for the first time, choose a public place and ensure that a trusted family member or friend knows where you are, who you are meeting and where you will be,” Kekana said.

Details of the cases

Kempton Park Police Station has recorded about 10 cases in which people allegedly connected with others through dating platforms or social media before agreeing to meet them. According to SAPS, suspects then allegedly lured victims to locations where they were robbed or sexually assaulted.

Police advice and next steps

SAPS has not linked these online dating incidents to the deaths of four women found in Kempton Park.

Police urged victims to report incidents as soon as possible and to provide investigators with any available information about the people involved. SAPS also encouraged users to keep records of online conversations, particularly if those records are needed to assist an investigation.

Safety reminders from police

• Choose a public place for first meetings.
• Tell a trusted family member or friend where you are and who you are meeting.
• Do not share unnecessary personal information with strangers online.

The warning forms part of a broader safety message from SAPS as police respond to violent crime in the Kempton Park area. Anyone who believes they have fallen victim to a crime should contact their nearest police station or report the matter through official SAPS channels.