High school learner caught with nude pics of primary school children
"The high school boy pretended to be a girl on social media platforms and befriended several young girls and boys, they then exchanged numbers and young girls were asked for nude photos.”
Centurion parents were warned to monitor their children’s social media usage after a high school boy from the area was allegedly caught with pornographic pictures of primary school children.
“The high school boy pretended to be a girl on social media platforms and befriended several young girls and boys,” said Centurion child protection hotline founder Danie van Loggenberg.
“They then exchanged numbers and young girls are asked for nude photos.”
Van Loggerenberg said a primary school girl’s mother contacted him after her daughter sent photos of herself to the 16-year-old boy at the beginning of July.
The mother had initially gone to the local police station to open a case when she was referred to the hotline, according to Van Loggerenberg.
He said he immediately knew who the alleged guilty party was when the primary school girl’s mother contacted him.
“This particular learner has befriended several primary school girls and boys.”
READ MORE: Centurion child hotline continues to grow
Van Loggerenberg said they were investigating a case against the learner when the complaint of the primary school girl was reported.
“Both schools were contacted after the incident was reported. The high school learner has since been suspended.
“In February, when we got the initial complaint, the high school boy said he had been ‘bullied’ to get hold of ‘nudes of kids’.”
Van Loggerenberg said there was no evidence the learner was indeed being “bullied” and he was sent for counselling earlier this year.
The high school learner’s social media tracks were traced as far as Cape Town, where he also targeted children under the same pretence.
Van Loggerenberg urged parents to check their children’s social media to also prevent cyber bullying.
He said this would help prevent their children being targeted, especially during lockdown where children were spending more time online.
“Parents should, as a rule, check up on all their children’s online interactions often. Checking emails and instant messaging communications also helps.”
READ MORE: Ways how predators monitor children online
Van Loggerenberg further said there should be no private conversations with strangers that a parent should not be aware of.
“Child protection should not only concern you once the life of your child or the child of a family member has been affected or threatened. It might be too late then.
“The dangers are real and the perpetrators in many cases not someone you would suspect.”
He urged the community to speak out about cyberbullying and to report it to the Centurion child hotline.
Any parent, teacher or caregiver can contact the helpline with regards to any matter pertaining to children on 071-192-0569 or centurion@toysforafrica.org.za.
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