A joint operation between the SAPS, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security has led to the arrest of a former school principal and another man. They are expected to appear in the Pretoria and Vanderbijlpark magistrate’s courts, respectively, tomorrow.

Pretoria Rekord reports the police arrested the 41-year-old suspect, a former teacher and school principal, on charges of exposing children to adult pornography and sexual grooming. He was arrested in Pretoria on Friday, for allegedly sexually grooming boys between the ages of 10 and 12.

According to national police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, police have identified three victims thus far, and a further six victims are yet to be traced.

The multidisciplinary team comprised the national and Gauteng Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) Unit and the Pretoria Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security.

“A joint operation between the SAPS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security led to the arrest of two suspects for sexual grooming, possession, downloading, manufacturing and distribution of child pornography in different parts of Gauteng.”

Van Wyk says members from these teams acted on information supplied through an international tip line.

“Investigation led the team to an address in Vanderbijlpark where they arrested a 49-year-old man who sexually groomed, sexually assaulted and raped his girlfriend’s 15-year-old daughter,” adds Van Wyk.

In both matters, the teams seized various electronic devices suspected of containing sexual child abuse images and videos, commonly known as child pornography.

The state is expected to oppose bail in both matters.

Van Wyk adds that residents are reminded that it is a criminal offence to possess, access, download, manufacture and share child pornography.

Listen to Van Wyk: