…By Roland Peterson for TDPel Media.
A 35-year-old man accused of disseminating pornographic images featuring the superimposed faces of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Police Bheki Cele made his first court appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Scebi Thabiso Nene faces two counts of crimen injuria, a charge related to the willful impairing of someone’s dignity.
Nene’s arrest was carried out by members of the Gauteng Crime Against the State (CATS) Team and the Hawks in Pietermaritzburg.
The investigation into the pornographic images was launched after the material was circulated among members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and on social media platforms.
According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase, the accused was traced to an address in Azalea, Pietermaritzburg, where a significant number of pornographic images were discovered on a device in his possession.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Nene had sent pornographic images, featuring the faces of Ramaphosa, Cele, and Cele’s wife, to a complainant who reported the matter.
As a result, Nene was remanded in custody, and the case was transferred to the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, May 30.
The dissemination of such explicit content involving public figures raises concerns about privacy, dignity, and the appropriate use of digital media.
The legal proceedings will continue as authorities seek to address the allegations and ensure accountability for the accused’s actions.