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A 16-year-old boy from Malmesbury has been arrested in a joint operation involving the SAPS and US agencies into an alleged child sexual exploitation network.  

The National SAPS confirmed that the arrest was carried out at home in Malmesbury on Monday, 17 August 2026. The joint operation saw authorities track the teen down to an address after he was allegedly identified as being part of an online extremist group known as “764”. 

According to national SAPS spokesperson Amanda Van Wyk, the SAPS received intelligence on the teen from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Embassy, and the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). 

Van Wyk said the group, among other things, targets and coerces minors into online sexual abuse.  

“The “764” networks are violent international online extremist networks associated with child exploitation. These perpetrators reportedly target, blackmail, and coerce minors into online sexual abuse, torturing and murdering of animals and other forms of harmful criminal activity,” said Van Wyk.  

The teen suspect’s house was searched, and Van Wyk advised that electronic devices were found allegedly containing concerning content and were seized.  

“A preliminary on-site analysis of the suspect’s electronic devices uncovered explicit images and videos depicting child sexual abuse and animal mutilation. The devices will undergo comprehensive forensic analysis to determine the full extent of the alleged offences.”  

She added that several child victims have been identified.  

The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Malmesbury Magistrates’ Court on 18 August on charges of “accessing, possession, facilitation, and downloading of child sexual abuse material”.  

“The possibility of additional offences relating to fraud and money laundering forms part of ongoing investigations,” added Van Wyk.

Several authorities spanning South Africa and the US were involved in the operation, said Van Wyk.  

“The operation was led by the National SECI Team, supported by members of Head Office Occult Unit, the Paarl Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, Paarl K9 Unit, and Western Cape Crime Scene Investigation Unit, as well as agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), US Embassy.”