Child sexual abuse material is a growing problem in SA, says FPB

The increase in cases of child pornography being reported in South Africa is “alarming”, the Film and Publication Board (FPB) says. 

The FPB was commenting in the wake of a trial that is before the Johannesburg High Court involving an attorney and a 38-year-old mother accused of pimping her two minor children.

Carel Benjamin Schoeman, an attorney, is accused of repeatedly raping a 13-year-old girl he “bought” from her mother. He is also being investigated by the Legal Practice Council.

Both pleaded not guilty. 

The mother has not been named to protect the identity of the children. 

Since the 2020/21 financial year, 69 instances of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were reported. The FPB said the filming and distribution of child pornography in South Africa is concerning, with reports indicating that the problem is growing.

“A total of 18 cases with over 90,000 CSAM were referred to the FPB during the financial year 2023/24,” said FPB spokesperson Manala Botolo.

The FPB works with law enforcement agencies and child protection organisations to actively combat this issue, Botolo said.

She said while it is technically possible to block websites that host child pornography, many sites operate in the shadows, making them difficult to track and block.

“There are numerous underground sites where child pornography can be accessed, often hidden from mainstream search engines and requiring specific knowledge to find.

“Unfortunately, South African children are being exploited and filmed for child pornography, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures,” she said. 

She added that a measure to block advertising online in collaboration with government agencies, internet service providers and international organisations was essential.

She said the FPB works closely with stakeholders and partners to engage in public awareness campaigns and education about the dangers of child exploitation.

“While blocking specific sites is possible, the dynamic nature of the internet means that new sites can quickly emerge, complicating efforts to eliminate access completely. However, we work with platforms like Google and META in enforcing the takedown approach on these websites,” she said.

She added that many underground sites were resilient when blocked, they often reappear under different domains or through encrypted networks, making them challenging to eradicate.

“Various efforts are under way, including law enforcement operations and partnerships with tech companies to identify and remove illegal content,” she said. 

During his trial this week, Schoeman said in October 2022 he had noticed a profile of a lady on the Sex-Trader website, but the photos did not show her face. The profile listed her as 19 years old, he said.

According to his version, he phoned to make an appointment. He was provided with the address of a guest house where he was introduced to the girl. He said during the time he spent with the child, he had no reason to believe that she was younger than the age listed on the website. 

It was only in February 2023, that he was contacted by the child's maternal grandmother who advised him that the child was only 14 years old and that he should return her to the grandmother immediately. 

“I was shocked that [the child] was 14 years old. I was also concerned that [she] was in danger and decided to approach the senior prosecutor at Boksburg for assistance in securing the safety [of the child] and her sibling who I had come to know about,” read the plea statement. 

Schoeman was then advised to provide a statement setting out his experience. “I was subsequently arrested and charged in the case.” 

The trial is expected to continue on Monday.

Dr Shaheda Omar from the Teddy Bear Foundation said child pornography was not a regular feature, but they do find cases where family members are pimping their children.

“It is not a new phenomenon. It is not unique. This is something that we are finding and we are finding more of those cases coming forward.

“Previously we never heard of family members, but now we are seeing that actual family members are responsible for the sale or pimping of their own children,” she said.

She said child pornography and distribution were not done directly and that's how perpetrators get away with it.

She said it was mostly discovered when children make disclosure and there is an investigation, and when parents are investigated and computers and devices are searched by officials. 

“Parents and caregivers should not be posting pictures of their children online and I think there needs to be more stringent measures around that.

“There is a lot of Photoshopping where children's faces are not shown. We have found that a lot of people are not even aware that their children have been Photoshopped and are being sold out there.”

She said there had been isolated cases in the past.

“There seems to be a pattern where more children are coming forward and more children are being referred. Through assessment and therapy we are finding that there are networks out there that are violating children, abusing them,” she said.