President Thabo Mbeki will sign into effect this month new child pornography measures that government says will have implications for computer technicians, Internet service providers and cyber caf'es.
The amendments will be made to the Film and Publications Act, and will compel all citizens to report anyone involved in the production and selling, or in possession of child pornography. The minimum sentence for anyone found guilty will be increased from five to 10 years.
The amendments come amid several high-profile child pornography cases in SA.
The current Film and Publications Act - which makes the importation, production, possession and distribution of child pornography an offence - has been described as "vague", allowing witnesses to such "horrific and appalling" crimes to keep quiet.
Home Affairs deputy minister Malusi Gigaba told reporters in Pretoria today that government is contemplating regulating Internet service providers and will meet with them to find common grounds for co-operation.
The move is expected to tighten the authorities` grip on those who are aware of the upkeep, production and selling of the filming and publication of such acts.
"We want to apply the law as strictly as possible," says Gigaba.
Also inserted in the Act is a clause calling for the arrest of South Africans who commit or trade in child pornography elsewhere in the world.
"This means if the person is suspected of being involved in child pornography outside of SA, we can arrest him. It does away with the long-winded extradition process," he says.
Government will set up a hotline in this regard by November and will consider setting up a "24-hour online policing forum", he notes.
Education campaign
Gigaba says government has begun a campaign to educate South Africans on child pornography issues.
The campaign will include a broad range of stakeholders, the media, Internet service providers, the religious community, labour and business.
"The campaign we are going to launch will target schools in particular and also raise the level of awareness in communities on child pornography.
"We also want to urge people to report child pornography whenever they see it so that more children should not fall victim to these acts."
He says the department will establish regional and international co-operation to work together to combat child pornography.
The campaign will be launched during the 16 Days of Activism Against Child and Women Abuse in November.
Government says it will hold a national conference on combating child pornography next May.
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