Staff Reporter.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) unit has, in collaboration with the USA Department of Homelands Security, arrested three child online sexual predators in Gauteng.

The trio appeared at Springs, Benoni and Krugersdorp Magistrates Courts on Monday. 

Their court appearances follow their arrest by the South African Police Service in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security in the US

In recent years, South Africa has become a hunting ground for online child sexual predators who use the Internet and social media to target minors.  

"In Springs, Gauteng police arrested a 63-year-old male British citizen who was found to be in the country illegally," said police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.  

"The suspect faces offences related to bestiality… Other offences are related to child pornography such as possession, distribution, accessing, downloading, facilitating, viewing, facilitating the distribution and making available child pornography, exposure of a child to adult and child pornography and grooming of a child.

"The second suspect, who is a 43-year-old South African male, was arrested in Benoni. The suspect also faces offences relating to child pornography, such as possession, distribution, accessing, downloading, facilitating, viewing and facilitating the distribution of child pornography available.

"The third suspect, a 43-year-old South African male suspect, was arrested in Krugersdorp."

Mathe said three South African children who were used during the commission of the offences were identified, and a dog was saved.  

The cases have been postponed for further investigation and bail applications.