Survivors urge Ministry of Justice to expedite extradition process
Image: File
Gender-based violence organisations are preparing to write to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), calling for no more delays in the trial against 85-year-old former SA teacher, Iain Wares, who is wanted by UK authorities on 74 counts of the sexual assault of young boys.
This comes after arguments were presented last week in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court during the Section 174 application, in which Wares' legal team earlier called for the charges against him to be dismissed.
Judgment in the application has since been reserved to August 7.
Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) said they were also calling on the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development to finalise the long-overdue fourth extradition warrant submitted by the British High Commission in October 2024.
'After years of waiting, survivors hoped for progress today. Instead, they are left in limbo once again,' said Miranda Jordan, founding director of WMACA.
'The arguments are in. The evidence has been led. But justice continues to stall."
Wares is also appealing his extradition.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
The local case involves a victim dubbed 'Stephen', who took the witness stand last year where he told of the indecent assault Wares allegedly inflicted on him.
The 47-year-old SA victim broke the silence claiming he was abused by Wares who was his teacher at Rondebosch Boys Preparatory during 1988.
Wares is facing one count of indecent assault, which allegedly took place in Rondebosch in 1988 and is accused of indecently assaulting a male victim between the age of 12 and 13 years old, by touching his buttocks and penis and rubbing his penis up against the victim.
The victim's wife earlier took the stand as the State closed its case, in which she revealed how her husband broke his silence after seeing Wares on television.
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 had been ill-advised.
The extradition involves allegation of former students of Wares in the UK who are all now beyond the age of 60 and that the incidents of apparent sexual and physical abuse took place between the 1960s and 1970s at schools such as Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
Cape Argus
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Eyewitness News
Activists welcomes court decision dismissing application by teacher accused of child sexual abuse
CAPE TOWN - The Women and Men Against Child Abuse has welcomed a court decision dismissing an application by a former Cape Town teacher accused of child sexual abuse to be acquitted of charges against him. The Wynberg Regional Court rejected Iain Wares' Section 174 application brought by his lawyer Ben Mathewson last week. Mathewson argued that the state had insufficient evidence to prosecute his client and that the testimonies of state witnesses lacked credibility. Wares is facing multiple charges related to sexual abuse of boys in South Africa and in the United Kingdom during his 40-year teaching career. ALSO READ: ConCourt to hear application to halt extradition of Iain Wares to UK Iain Wares is accused by a former pupil at Rondebosch Boys Preparatory School, known only as Stephen, of abusing him in 1988 while he was a teacher there. Magistrate Vanessa Miki has ruled that the state's evidence is enough to proceed with the case. Women and Men Against Child Abuse Advocacy Manager Luke Lamprecht hailed the decision as an affirmation that Wares must finally answer for his crimes. "The now adult male victim who was 12 at the time he was taught by Mr Wares, his voice has been heard, and it has been decided by the Magistrate that Mr Wares has a case to answer to." The case has been postponed until October 14 for Wares to start his case.
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
Police union says killings of cops points to crisis
SA African police union national spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale said there was 'no political will' to declare police killings as treason. "Police officers are representing the state, and the state must take measures to protect the protectors, as an attack on police or law enforcement officers is an attack on the State. The continuous attack on police officers means the State is under attack,' Thobakgale said. 'There can never be a decrease on police killings that can be appreciated. We [would] rather celebrate a zero number on police and law enforcement officers being reported every quarter." According to Mamabolo, the rate of attacks on officers remained unacceptably high. 'While there have been moments where crime statistics have reflected marginal decreases in certain categories, the sustained targeting of law enforcement shows that more decisive and coordinated action is needed. This requires not only better resourcing of the police — including training, equipment, and staffing — but also stronger community–police partnerships to rebuild trust, gather intelligence and prevent attacks before they happen. On Saturday, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola visited the families of the slain Gauteng officers. 'Indeed, we cannot remain silent, and it cannot be business as usual when criminals have clearly declared war on the authority of the state. 'I am making this call again to all police officers in the country: do not die with the tools and resources that we have given you. The men and women in blue must act appropriately when circumstances allow them to act. Remember to always use force that is proportional to the threat. 'I plead with you, do not let your guard down, always be a step ahead of these criminals to ensure the safety and security of the people of this country," Masemola said. On Sunday he visited Mtshweni's family in Mpumalanga. He also said one person has since been arrested in connection with the officer's murder. The acting minister of police, Prof Firoz Cachalia, also visited the families of the two detectives in Roodepoort on Sunday. He said: 'These senseless acts of violence against our men and women in blue are an attack on the rule of law and on the safety of all South Africans. We strongly condemn these heinous crimes, and we will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice. 'We call on all SAPS members to remain alert at all times and to make full and appropriate use of the tools of trade issued to them.' SowetanLIVE
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
86-year-old 'sex pest' teacher loses bid to dismiss case
Ian Wares, left, and his lawyer, Ben Mathewson, at the Wynberg court. Wares, who is wanted by UK authorities for 76 counts of sexual assault of young boys, has lost an application to have a Cape Town case discharged. Image: Genevieve Serra Former SA teacher, Iain Wares, who is wanted by UK authorities for 76 counts of sexual assault of young boys, has lost an application to have a Cape Town case discharged. Wares, 86, who walks using a walking stick, heard that his Section 174 discharge application was unsuccessful in the Wynberg Regional Court on Thursday. Magistrate Vanessa Miki said the State had enough evidence to proceed with the matter. She said that while looking at the evidence, it didn't warrant for the case to be rejected and therefore dismissed and refused the application. The application was brought by Ben Mathewson, Wares' lawyer, arguing that the State didn't have enough evidence to bring a prosecution and that the testimonies of two witnesses, that of the victim, lacked credibility. The local case involves a male victim who came forward after nearly four decades. Wares has since pleaded not guilty to the charge of indecent assault. With his legal team, he is also appealing his extradition to Scotland where he is supposed to stand for his alleged crimes abroad, arguing for the Extradition Act to be declared inconsistent with the Constitution. The responding parties brought their written and answering submissions and their notice to oppose the application earlier this year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The local case involves a victim dubbed 'Stephen', who took the witness stand last year where he told of the indecent assault Wares allegedly inflicted on him. The 47-year-old victim broke his silence claiming he was abused by Wares who was his teacher at Rondebosch Boys' Preparatory during 1988. Wares is accused of indecently assaulting the male victim by touching his buttocks and penis and rubbing his penis up against the victim. The victim's wife took the stand as the State closed its case, in which she revealed how her husband broke his silence after seeing Wares on television. During her testimony, the woman, who cannot be identified, told the court that while they watched an episode of Carte Blanche in 2022, her husband revealed that it was his teacher who had abused him and did so by pointing to Wares who was on television.
