Advocacy group challenges social worker’s report on convicted Iain Wares - IOL
Former school teacher, 86-year-old Iain Wares, at a previous court appearance at the Wynberg Regional Court.
A social worker testifying in defence of convicted former teacher Iain Wares, who is also wanted by UK authorities on more than 90 charges relating to the alleged sexual abuse of 65 boys, denied being an abuser in a court-submitted report.
Arina Smit was called to the witness stand for Wares’ defence on Monday. She described him as a timid, non-aggressive and anxious man who had been abused by his mother. She also said he was physically frail and unlikely to reoffend.
Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA), an advocacy group that was present during the 87-year-old Wares’ sentencing proceedings, confirmed that he continued to deny being a child abuser.
“One member of WMACA, Cape Town representative and author Claudine Shiels, was present to hear her (Smit's) detailed portrayal of Mr Wares as a timid, non-aggressive, anxious man who had been abused by his mother, was physically frail and was unlikely to reoffend,” WMACA said.
“She left an impression of a model citizen, a victim of his own paedophilic thoughts, and the shameful burden that they carried.
“According to her report, he finds child abuse abhorrent, an act he has never committed.”
WMACA said this contradicted Wares’ written confession in a 2019 affidavit to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, in which he stated that he had acted on his urges. WMACA said it was in possession of the affidavit.
“Horrifically, Smit emphasised that Wares had taught at Rondebosch Preparatory School for years, where there had been ‘only one victim’, despite his access to many boys. She stated that, contrary to WMACA’s assertion that there were more victims and its media campaign to reach them, none had come forward,” WMACA said.
“Smit assumes that survivors always disclose, and that disclosure leads to criminal charges. She must familiarise herself with well-researched and widely documented studies into the shameful fear that silences victims.”
Wares was convicted earlier this year of indecently assaulting a former learner at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School in 1988.
Smit earlier outlined the psychological evaluation and assessment methodologies she uses to analyse personalities.
While doing so, she explained to the court how these factors applied to individuals such as Wares.
Wares is also facing extradition to the UK, where authorities allege that he sexually abused at least 65 boys, aged between eight and 13, over an 11-year period while working as a mathematics teacher and rugby coach in Edinburgh between 1968 and 1979.
Last year, Wares was arrested by Cape Town authorities following an Interpol notice and was granted bail of R10 000.
Pre-sentencing proceedings continue on September 23, 2026.
