Police have urged parents to block harmful content on chats and apps, as they crack down on child pornography predators in the country.

A fourth suspect, a 60 year-old-man, was arrested in Umbilo in Kwazulu Natal yesterday, with thousands of images and videos of child pornography allegedly found in his possession.

He forms part of the 27 online child sexual predators that have been identified in South Africa by a joint international operation led by the SAPS’ Serial and Electronic Investigations unit and the US Department of Homeland Security.

In the past week, three others were arrested in Gauteng.

The trio was arrested in a simultaneous operation, relating to a number of suspects who were identified as South African users who are involved in the possession, distribution, manufacturing, accessing and downloading of child pornography.

After several months of investigation and planning by SECI, perpetrators were identified in Gauteng and a joint Operation was planned.

In Springs, police arrested a 63-year-old male British citizen who was found to be in the country illegally.

He faces charges relating to the possession, distribution, facilitating the distribution and making available child pornography as well as child grooming. He also faces offences related to bestiality.

The second suspect who is a 43-year-old South African male was arrested in Benoni and the third suspect, a 43-year-old South African male, was arrested in Krugersdorp.

As a result of these Operations, three South African children who were used during the commission of the above offences were identified and a dog was saved.

The police says operations will continue throughout the country to unravel a network of child sexual predators.

​The SAPS is calling on parents to monitor their children’s devices such as tablets and phones on a daily basis to prevent more children from becoming victims of such criminal activities.

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