The past seven years have seen a 1 500% increase in child porn images available and almost all of this is due to the Internet.
This is according to deputy home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba, addressing the launch of SA`s national child pornography hotline last week.
Gigaba said the Internet Watch Foundation had noted a 1 500% increase in the number of child porn images in circulation since 1997. He added that, according to the Italian organisation Rainbow, there are more than 17 000 Web sites devoted to child pornography exclusively on the Internet.
The US and Russia account for over 75% of all images, and child pornography syndicates are raking in billions of dollars in profits through the sale of these images.
Over 99% of child pornography images are accessed and distributed through the Internet, he said, and children are reported to be increasingly involved in the distribution of these images.
"The SAPS Child Protection Unit has reported the shocking information that there is a radical rise in the rates of violence against children in SA, manifested among other things in the rising cases of child pornography currently under investigation or before the courts."
Gigaba stressed the government`s commitment to fighting violence against women and children. He noted that the Sexual Offences Bill, soon to be passed, would broaden the definition of sexual violence and help ensure heavy sentences will be imposed on perpetrators. In addition, more police officers are undergoing specialised training to help them with such cases and specialist sexual offences courts will be expanded throughout the country.
"We are proud to announce that in addition to various child protection initiatives, the Films and Publication Amendment Act has been amended to make the investigation and prosecution of child pornography offenders more effective."
He called on members of the public to take action against child pornography. "In the event that you stumble across child pornography images or know of a site that contains or advertises child pornography images, call the hotline at 0800 148 148 with that information."
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