- A 40-year-old man from Belmont Park in Kraaifontein, along with two co-accused from Worcester and Mitchell’s Plain, appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court last week on charges relating to child pornography.
- The child-porn circle was laid bare when the three men were arrested in a joint operation by the South African police’s Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations Unit (SECI) and the USA’s Department of Homeland Security on 18 January.
- These arrests formed part of an international operation to trace manufacturers, users and distributors of child pornography.
A 40-year-old man from Belmont Park in Kraaifontein, along with two co-accused from Worcester and Mitchell’s Plain, appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court last week on charges relating to child pornography.
The child-porn circle was laid bare when the three men were arrested in a joint operation by the South African police’s Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations Unit (SECI) and the USA’s Department of Homeland Security on 18 January.
This brings the total number of child online sexual predators to seven that have been arrested since November. The previous four were arrested in November, three in Gauteng, one in KwaZulu-Natal.
These arrests formed part of an international operation to trace manufacturers, users and distributors of child pornography.
The cybercrime unit stationed in Pretoria had received “red alerts” on the three men.
The Kraaifontein man, whose identity cannot be made public due to legislation, was found in possession of more than 149 000 pictures of child pornography and more than 5 000 videos at his 7th Avenue house. Police said under-age girls were lured to a chat group where child pornography was distributed and shared among the three accused.
Police also found two unlicensed firearms, various calibre of ammunition, nine snakes three of which did not have permits, two dogs and two cats. All the animals were found in a poor condition.
One of the dogs was severely injured due to a recent dog fight, according to a spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. The animals are now safely in veterinary care.
The same source said police sniffer dogs were brought in and found body fluids in the house. The accused are facing charges of possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, possession, distribution and accessing of child pornography and animal cruelty.
The source said a woman lived in a structure in the backyard with her two young children. “She was hysterical when she learned of the arrest and charges. All the neighbours were shocked to learn of what was going on.”
Kraaifontein police urged parents to monitor the devices and social-media accounts of their children to ensure they don’t fall prey to sexual predators.
“?Install parental-control software and apps that identify and block harmful content. Advise children not to respond to messages or emails from strangers. Advise them ?never to upload sexually suggestive images nor reveal personal information,” said Kraaifontein police spokesperson WO Louise Strydom.
The case is postponed pending a probe.
