South African Man Arrested After Alleged Defilement of Minor Met Through Dating App

NAIROBI, KENYA – A 26-year-old South African national has been arrested and charged with defilement following an incident involving a 17-year-old Nairobi schoolgirl he allegedly met through the popular dating application Tinder.

Bradley Zwane was taken into custody at Kibra Police Station after the teenager’s disappearance last month sparked a frantic search by her family and law enforcement authorities.

The case began when the minor, encouraged by a classmate, downloaded Tinder and created a profile.

Within days of joining the platform, she began receiving multiple matches, including from Zwane, who was staying at a luxury hotel in Westlands.

The teenager subsequently disappeared from her family home, prompting her parents to file a missing person report with Kibra Police Station.

“When my daughter disappeared, I didn’t sleep the entire night,” the girl’s mother told investigators. “I was so afraid. I told myself my child had either been kidnapped or killed.”

Acting swiftly on the missing person report, investigators traced the girl to the Westlands hotel where Zwane was staying.

During a search of the premises, police discovered several concerning items, including five Kenyan passports – four of which were reportedly brand new, with one showing recent travel stamps from South Africa and Russia.

The room also contained used condoms, further raising investigators’ concerns about the nature of the encounter.

Zwane, now in police custody, has maintained that he believed the girl was of legal age.

According to police statements, the suspect claimed the teenager told him she was 18 years old, consistent with what was allegedly listed on her Tinder profile.

“I asked her how old she was, and she said 18, just like it said on her Tinder profile,” Zwane reportedly told police.

“I asked for her ID, and she jokingly said it was a 4. She told me her birthday was yesterday, and that she had finished high school and was waiting to go to university.”

Regarding the suspicious passports found in his possession, Zwane claimed they belonged to a company manager who had traveled to Europe, though authorities continue to investigate these claims.

The case has raised significant questions about online safety and age verification on dating platforms.

Investigators are examining how a minor was able to create a profile on Tinder, which requires users to be at least 18 years old.

Additionally, authorities are questioning how the teenager gained access to the hotel, as most establishments require valid identification for entry.

Police are also investigating Zwane’s alleged connections to an international betting company, though details of this aspect of the case remain limited.

The victim’s mother made an emotional appeal regarding the case, expressing her fears about the long-term impact on her daughter.

“That man called me and asked to talk. I begged him, ‘Please don’t ruin my daughter’s life,’” she said.

“But when I looked at her — she’s just 17. If anything had happened to her, how would he have lived with himself?”

Zwane remains in custody at Kibra Police Station, facing charges that include defilement under Kenyan law.

The case highlights ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in protecting minors from potential predators using online platforms.

The incident has also sparked broader discussions about the responsibility of dating app companies to implement more robust age verification measures and the need for enhanced digital literacy education for young people about online safety.

Investigations into the case continue, with authorities examining both the immediate circumstances of the alleged crime and the broader networks that may have facilitated it.