/ 4 August 2000

VAN NIEROP AXED BY SABC

CHILD-PORN accused Leon van Nierop’s services as an SABC continuity announcer have been suspended pending the outcome of his court case. The SABC has also suspended van Nierop’s movie review show Fliekflikkers, but they’ve decided to continue broadcasting the series Stralerjakkers, which he wrote and directed. Van Nierop, 47, was arrested on Monday along with a friend, Tascoe Luc de Reuck, 27, for allegedly being in possession of hard-core child pornography. The two men were released on bail of R5000 each. Investigators from the Pretoria unit investigating family violence, child protection and sex crimes found the pornography, at Van Nierop’s home after obtaining a search warrant earlier this week. “I found the material repulsive,” investigating officer Captain Gerrie Visser said. The details of the pornography, to be classified this week by the Film and Publications Board in Cape Town, may not be published. Police also seized four personal computers owned by Van Nierop. The machines’ hard drives will be analysed by IT technicians. The information on Van Nierop’s computers could lead police to further suspects. Transactions performed on Van Nierop’s credit card will also come under scrutiny. He allegedly used the card to order, via the Internet, a package which was later intercepted by police. It contained video tapes and a CD-Rom from Asia. Van Nierop alleges that access to pornographic websites was obtained without his knowledge. Van Nierop and companion De Reuck have been living together for three years.

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