This news article investigates the growing threat of online child sexual exploitation and abuse in South Africa. It highlights the prevalence of unsolicited sexual requests received by children online, the tactics used by predators, and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating this crime.
Online predators continue to target South African children, with 1 in 5 under 17 receiving unsolicited sexual requests online. Crime expert Mike Bolhuis calls child sexual abuse material the worst addiction, with predators rarely caught. Part one of this three-part series looks at child sexual abuse material, and the growing problem of how predators trick children online.
Hiding behind a computer, or a phone, with a fake profile, these criminals use social media, chat apps and even gaming platforms to trick children by gaining their trust. A 2024 report by the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) revealed that one in five children under 17 has received 'unsolicited' sexual requests online. In South Africa, a third of them met their predator in person. The report also reveals the rapid increase in online child sexual exploitation and abuse across Africa, including infants and toddlers. With 65% of the victims being girls. Crime expert Mike Bolhuis warns that child sexual abuse material is one of the biggest cybercrimes in South Africa, yet is very difficult to investigate. Bolhuis explains that these sexual predators take their time to identify their victims, building strong emotional bonds and making children feel loved. They then exploit that trust and vulnerability. Bolhuis adds that while paedophiles generally do not intend to kill their victims, they steal their innocence and identity. 'These child abusers are normal people that have wives and have sex with their partners,' he says, but 'will always be thinking in future they will be having sex with children until it gets to that point.' And because these perpetrators do not have a specific profile, it is very difficult to identify them. Bolhuis describes them as intelligent, friendly and outgoing, which makes their detection even harder. Children, who often lack awareness of sexual predators and grooming tactics, are especially vulnerable. This allows criminals to commit their crimes without suspicion, often also delving into rape, human trafficking and sextortion. Some he says either hurt, sell or kill children, while others may film themselves engaging in sexual acts with children. 'They never have enough. You would think if they have 100 photos it is enough, but they always want more. To them, a photo is one blink, and they want the next one.' This abuse can see children act out sexually, even with their peers, without them being aware of the consequences. While the amount of money generated from child sexual abuse material is unclear, Bolhuis believes it accounts for up to 13% of the world’s illegal economy. In a recent raid, a couple from Midrand was arrested for possession, accessing, downloading and distributing child sexual abuse material, as well as fraud and the possession of drugs. SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, says a forensic analysis of their devices revealed 10 million images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Despite the growing threat, Van Wyk says that law enforcement is actively tackling these crimes. She explains that the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit consists of a specialised team of detectives. It is one of the Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) units. In 2017, 10 SECI units were established, one for each province and a national one to effectively investigate crimes committed through electronic mediums. Van Wyk says in the last two years, 22 suspects were arrested countrywide on charges related to child sexual abuse material. She notes that the growing number of social media sites and websites have made it easier for predators to target their victims, and engage with like-minded people committing the same crimes. 'It is also a crime when parents receive pictures depicting child sexual abuse material and innocently share it with another adult. If you find that it reaches your device rather report it,' she advises. “With the digital world continuously growing, so too are the dangers lurking in its shadows,” Van Wyk warns. “There are different scenarios. Often at times, online platforms are used. Here perpetrators may depict themselves as another child just to find that the person at the other end of the platform is an adult. This is how grooming happens.,” she adds. Van Wyk sees child sexual abuse material as a borderless crime, with suspects engaging with others suspects outside of South Africa. This forces police to engage with international law enforcement, often through national tip-off lines. “When we identify victims within our borders, it's all hands on deck. We need to use all resources to investigate and to provide assistance to the victims,” she says.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ONLINE PREDATORS SOUTH AFRICA CRIME LAW ENFORCEMENT DIGITAL WORLD
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