Cape Town - Several Cape Town schoolgirls may be the unwitting stars of crush porn videos, with some cases dating back two years as the demand for local porn rises in Europe.
That’s according to the SPCA, which sounded the warning after Weekend Argus revealed last weekend that a so-called crush porn video was doing the rounds in Cape Town. It featured two girls from Edgemead High School crushing fish, while performing sexual acts, in a video titled Squishing Nemo.
At the time, the SPCA said the video was “just the tip of the iceberg”, and now SPCA chief executive Allan Perrins has confirmed that at least 11 local girls have featured in similar porn videos.
In an exclusive interview he told Weekend Argus an investigation found the girls were paid R250 per animal crushing, and R1 500 per oral sex session.
The videos, which quickly go viral, involve fish and other small animals being crushed to death or seriously injured while people have sex. Women often wear high heels, apparently so viewers can see the creatures suffer as much as possible. The creatures often suffer broken limbs, and can even be set alight.
Provincial Education Department (WCED) spokeswoman Jessica Shelver said the department could not comment until it saw the report, but would be willing to work with the SPCA in its investigation.
“The WCED has not received the report from the SPCA, nor have we any confirmations from schools regarding additional learners that have allegedly been implicated. The WCED and our schools will co-operate wherever possible with the investigation,” she said.
Perrins said the SPCA started its own investigation about two weeks ago, and tracked down several of the girls.
“In our opinion, this is tantamount to prostitution as the girls were paid for sexual favours which allegedly included the cruel and unnecessary squashing to death of fish, cockroaches and flies,” he said.
The videos were allegedly shot at two hotels in Sea Point, and featured girls mostly from schools in the northern suburbs. Some are now adults, which has led to the belief that the videos span across several years.
The SPCA sought legal opinion on the matter, and Perrins said they were shocked to find that the videos were not classified as child pornography as the girls were all of age.
“Those involved were between the ages of 16 and 18. This is very significant because at the age of 16 one can give consent, so there is no possibility of statutory rape as the boys and girls are of age,” said Perrins.
He said many of the girls claimed to be unaware that the videos were available on the internet, and were shocked when they were told.
The videos were apparently created for the European market, where there is a huge demand for porn involving South African teens, both girls and boys.
Perrins confirmed that a case of cruelty to animals would be opened with the police. The SPCA is also pursuing those behind the videos, including a producer, a man allegedly named “Sebastian”.
“The producer is believed to be a helicopter pilot of Australian descent with connections to the Stellenbosch area. We are fairly confident that we have traced the go-between, and plan to interview the suspect at the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit headquarters. We are hopeful that past victims will come to the fore in our search to track down and apprehend the producer,” Perrins said.
Meanwhile, one of the two girls from Edgemead High School has deregistered as a pupil. - Weekend Argus