Midrand suspect found with ’10 million child pornography images and videos’ arrested (PICS)

South African Police Service (Saps) members combed through evidence on Friday at a scene in Midrand where a suspect was arrested for child pornography-related charges.

The officers initiated a takedown operation on Friday morning and arrested one suspect for possession, accessing, downloading, and distribution of child pornography.

The Saps announced that they had discovered the suspect in possession of thousands of images and videos showing child pornography.

Suspect found with child pornography images and videos

On Friday morning, Saps said it would release more information at a later stage.

Just before midday on Friday, the police said they were still combing through evidence at the scene.

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“Thus far, the Saps team found an estimate of 10 million child pornography images and videos on various electronic devices,” the Saps posted.

After 5 pm, the police confirmed that they had arrested the 35-year-old suspect for possession of drugs and fraud as well.

Major General Mmantsheke Lekhele, the Component Head for Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS), led the operation with investigators from the national and Gauteng provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) units and executed a search-and-seizure warrant.

Electronic devices confiscated

National SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said investigators confiscated several electronic devices suspected to contain child sexual abuse material.

“A forensic analysis of these devices was conducted on scene by cyber-crime experts, an estimated number of 10 million child pornography images and videos were detected thus far,” van Wyk said.

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Investigators also seized a large amount of cash believed to be proceeds of crime.

International law enforcement identified a target in South Africa and shared information with the police, which led to the suspect’s arrest.

“Further investigation by the SECI teams revealed that the suspect is hosting and distributing child pornography on a global scale for financial gain,” van Wyk added.

Suspect appearing in court next week

The 35-year-old will appear before the Randburg Magistrates’ Court next week, while the investigation continues.

Authorities will withhold the suspect’s identity until he formally pleads in court.

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In the last two years, police arrested 21 suspects on charges related to child pornography countrywide.

Ex-teacher accused of child porn and sexual grooming

In December, a former teacher and school principal appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for allegedly exposing pornography to children and sexually grooming three school boys.

The 41-year-old faced three counts of exposing pornography to children and four counts of sexual grooming of two 13-year-olds and one 15-year-old boy pupil from Raslouw Academy.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumauka Mahanjana alleged that the ex-teacher contacted the three boys in August 2024.

He allegedly sent the pupils nude pictures of himself and requested they send their nudes in exchange.

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The accused allegedly requested and received a picture from one of the children, then video-called the pupil and proceeded to demonstrate inserting his penis into a bottle.

“One of the victims reported the matter to the school teacher, who requested they bring their phones to school for observation,” Mahanjana said.

“The parents of the victims were informed about the incident by the school, and a case was opened against the accused in August 2024.”

R10 000 bail

On 31 December 2024, the suspect was released on bail of R10 000.

The case was postponed to 27 March 2025 for further investigations.

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