Cape Town - A former South African teacher who is wanted by UK authorities on allegations with regard to 84 counts of the sexual assault of young boys will face another witness who is set to take the stand in his local case at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.
Earlier this year, 84-year-old Iain Wares pleaded not guilty to one count of indecent assault.
The case relates to a victim who came forward after more than 30 years.
The victim, dubbed “Stephen”, made his final testimony on the witness stand at the Wynberg Regional Court this week where he was placed under cross-examination.
Stephen, 47, broke his silence claiming he had been abused by Wares who was a teacher at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory during 1988.
A witness who is related to Stephen and who cannot be identified is expected to take the witness stand on September 19.
Wares is facing one count of indecent assault which the State is set to prove took place in Rondebosch in 1988, whereby he had allegedly indecently assaulted a male victim between the ages of 12 and 13 years by touching his buttocks and penis, and rubbing his penis up against the victim.
An alternative to this is ‘indecent assault immoral act’, and he had previously been charged with assault which has now fallen away.
Stephen’s testimony has been held in camera, including while being cross-examined by the defence.
Women Against Child Abuse (WMACA) have been supporting Stephen and his family at court and assisting in preparing him for the witness stand.
“The accused, Iain Wares, faces multiple charges related to sexual abuse of boys in South Africa and the UK during his 40+ years teaching career,” said Miranda Jordan for WMACA.
“Despite what Mr Wares claimed in
his first appeal against his extradition to the UK, a local man in his mid-forties has brought indecent assault charges against Mr Wares.
“He gave evidence at his last appearance, and was under cross-examination “This is a far bigger case than just this one person testifying in court.
“This case is linked to a large number of international sexual abuse cases involving boys at elite UK schools who were then 9 to 11 years old, who he taught and coached.
“Stephen has completed his testimony and physically saw the man who allegedly abused him sexually as a young boy in court.
“The man is one of the most prolific career sex offenders we know of. He was also often violent and assaulted many boys in front of their classmates.
“He left every single child with life-long trauma. They are still haunted by it.”
Wares was a teacher at St George’s Grammar School and Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory during the 1980s and 1990s before retiring in 2006.
Wares has another battle which he is fighting, that of an extradition request made by the UK in 2018 and a warrant issued for his arrest in 2019.
Wares initially made a written affidavit of admissions to having inappropriate urges to touch boys and to sexually abusing them but it was retracted with the claim that he was ill-advised
The allegation relates to 42 former students of Wares in the UK, who are all now beyond the age of 60, and the incidents of apparent sexual and physical abuse took place between the 1960s and 1970s at schools such as Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College.
Wares was ordered surrendered to the UK to stand trial on six charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour and one charge of indecent assault for which his extradition is sought with seven counts.
Wares has since brought an appeal for his extradition which continues at the Cape High Court.
Wares had left the UK in later years and began teaching at various schools, which included St George’s Grammar School and Rondebosch Boys Preparatory during the 1980s and 1990s, before retiring in 2006.