BY KASSAHUN CHANIE
Thousands of explicit photos and videos have been made public by the police, who have so far arrested four males suspected of being among the 27 people named as internet child sex predators in South Africa, according to News24.
Within a week of this concerted operation, three people in Gauteng and one in KwaZulu-Natal were taken into custody by the South African Police Service's Serial & Electronic Investigations Unit (SECI), working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Professional in child safety Joan van Niekerk advises parents to keep a close eye on their kids' mobile devices and to stay in constant contact with them in order to protect them from cyber predators. Between 7% and 9% of South African children between the ages of 9 and 17 have been the victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation, according to a recent News24 article.
Research from Disrupting Harm in South Africa, based on self-reported data, shows that only about 2 percent of these cases end up in the hands of the police or helplines.
African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who represents the ruling party, vehemently denounced the actions of Kopanong Municipality Mayor Xolani Tseletsele toward a citizen who had complained about road conditions on Facebook, according to News24. Social media users shared a video of Tseletsele threateningly confronting a resident of Jagersfontein in front of his kids. During a press briefing, Mbalula criticized Tseletsele's actions, claiming they went against the ideals of public representatives and the ANC's constitutional duties.
Citing rulebook provisions for Tseletsele's suspension and subsequent disciplinary procedures, Mbalula ordered the Free State provincial structure to act immediately. Later, Tseletsele expressed regret on social media, stating that he would also like to apologize to the ANC community in addition to the resident.
An argument over loud music disturbing neighbors who were studying for exams led to the arrest of a 44-year-old police sergeant from Thohoyandou in Limpopo who was trying to kill his landlord, according to IOL. The landlord was gravely injured when the sergeant allegedly opened fire on her before escaping the scene. Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the provincial police commissioner, denounced the officer's capture in Vuwani village the next day. Denouncing the act, she emphasized that the goal of law enforcement is to safeguard, not to harm, the public. The Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court is expected to charge the sergeant with attempted murder.