Advocacy group lauds progress in Midrand couple child sex trafficking case

Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) said that progress in the case of the Midrand couple accused of running a child sex trafficking ring is a good sign of accountability.

The case against Darren Wilken and his girlfriend, Tiona Moodley, was declared ready for trial by the Randburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

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The couple faces almost 1,000 charges for manufacturing and distributing over 10 million copies of child sexual abuse material.

The organisation’s Alex Talbot said this case is possibly one of the biggest child sexual trafficking they have ever seen in South Africa.

“Almost 900 charges read into the record, ranging from money laundering to possession and sale and distribution of unlawful data of child sexual abuse material.”

She added that this comes as 16 Days of Activism themed "End digital violence against all women and girls" ends.

“The advocate on the case is very firm, and she is very thorough and we can see through the indictment that it’s very large, so we have a lot of faith in the prosecution, and we have to see what the defence has to offer.”