A 16-year-old boy from Malmesbury has appeared in court after allegedly targeting 11 American children as part of an international child exploitation network linked to the “violent” online group known as “764”.
The victims, all reportedly based in the United States, are aged between 11 and 17. The teenager is accused of coercing them into sexual and violent acts over a period of about seven months while allegedly operating from his home in Malmesbury.
The investigation was initiated after information was shared with South African authorities by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Embassy in Pretoria and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
South African police subsequently arrested the teenager in Malmesbury. The case involves allegations relating to the accessing, possession, facilitation and downloading of child sexual abuse material.
Alleged links to ‘764’ network
Prosecutors have told the court that the teenager is allegedly linked to the online network known as 764, which has been associated with the exploitation and coercion of vulnerable children and teenagers.
International law enforcement agencies have previously warned about 764 and related groups, which operate across online platforms and use social media and messaging services to identify and manipulate young victims.
The FBI has previously described 764-linked networks as violent groups that target minors through online platforms, using threats, blackmail and coercion to force victims to produce sexually explicit material or engage in acts of self-harm and violence.
According to the State in the Malmesbury case, the network targets children through platforms including Snapchat, Discord and Telegram.
Prosecutors have described 764 as a cult-like network with a satanic ideology, alleging that members use grooming, threats and coercion to gain control over children.
The State further told the court that some children who had been drawn into the network subsequently took their own lives.
Teen allegedly operated from Malmesbury home
The court heard that the alleged offences took place over approximately seven months.
The teenager is accused of using online platforms from his home in Malmesbury to communicate with and manipulate the children, allegedly coercing them into sexual and violent acts.
He was reportedly homeschooled at the time of the alleged offences.
The court also heard that he had previously attended a high school in Malmesbury but left during 2024, after completing two terms.
The investigation highlights the increasingly international nature of online child exploitation, where perpetrators can target victims thousands of kilometres away without having any physical contact with them.
International investigation
The case also demonstrates the role of international information-sharing in identifying suspected online predators.
In this instance, intelligence from US authorities and child-protection organisations was passed to South African law enforcement, ultimately leading to the identification and arrest of the Malmesbury teenager.
The international 764 network has been the subject of investigations in several countries. Research into the group has documented cases in which children were manipulated into producing child sexual abuse material and carrying out acts of self-harm or animal abuse.
The FBI has previously warned that members of these networks deliberately seek out vulnerable minors and exploit their access to online communication platforms.
The investigation into the Malmesbury teenager remains ongoing, and the allegations against him have not been tested in a criminal trial.
