Kids' rights group calls for extradition of former SA teacher accused of child sexual abuse

CAPE TOWN - Children rights group Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) is calling on Justice Minister Thembi Nkadimeng to expedite the extradition of a former SA teacher accused of child sexual abuse.

This follows last week’s ruling by the Western Cape High Court, finding 85-year-old Iain Wares can be extradited to face sexual abuse charges in the UK.

Wares faces more than 70 charges of sexually and physically abusing young boys during his teaching years in Scotland in the 60's and 70's.

He is also on trial in Cape Town where he's facing sexual assault charges brought by a former Rondebosch Boys pupil only known as Stephen.

In 2018, prosecutors in Scotland requested Iain Wares' extradition - leading to his arrest in 2019 on seven charges of lewd and indecent behaviour.

The extradition was originally approved by South African courts but Wares challenged the ruling on appeal.

BBC broadcaster Nicky Campbell is among scores of former pupils of Edinburg Academy and Fettes College in Scotland accusing him of abuse.

Last week, the Western Cape High Court ruled that Wares could be extradited on three of the seven charges raised in South Africa.

The court said he could not be extradited on the other four charges because at the time they were issued, they had been timed out under South African law.

"We at WMACA commend the British and local survivors who have stood their ground and have had to wait a long time to finally see the wheels of justice turning," said  WMACA's head of advocacy Luke Lamprecht.

The court's ruling now requires a decision from the Justice Minister.