News24 | SA man with 56 000 child abuse images arrested as international operation nets major bust

A 59-year-old man was arrested in Mpumalanga with over 56 000 child pornography material.

• Police found over 56 000 videos and images depicting child sexual abuse during a raid at the man’s Standerton home, along with 15 licensed firearms and digital devices.
• The arrest was part of Operation Bad Vibes, a joint initiative between SAPS, US Homeland Security Investigations, and the US Embassy launched in 2023.
• The man appeared in court on Thursday after his Wednesday arrest, with a bail application on Monday.

A 59-year-old man from Mpumalanga who was arrested with over 56 000 child abuse videos and images is expected to make a formal bail application on Monday.

The man was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Standerton during a police operation, as part of Operation Bad Vibes, a joint initiative between the South African Police Service, US Homeland Security Investigations, and the US Embassy.

“During the operation, the team also seized 15 licensed firearms and several digital devices,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk.

While police were processing the scene, Van Wyk said, forensic experts uncovered more than 56 000 videos and images depicting child sexual abuse.

She said the operation was led by the Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations unit in Mpumalanga, with support from Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), US Embassy, the Local Criminal Record Centre, and designated firearm officers in Standerton.

“Initiated in 2023, Operation Bad Vibes is a joint initiative between the SAPS, HSI, US Embassy, aimed at tracing and arresting individuals in South Africa who are linked to accessing, possession, manufacturing, and distribution of child sexual abuse material on a global scale,” Van Wyk added.

The man appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The case was postponed to Monday for a formal bail application.