Schools must monitor their staff closely, says parent whose son was allegedly molested by former teacher at St John's Prep School

Another parent whose son was allegedly molested by his former St John’s Preparatory School teacher said that learning institutions needed to monitor their staff more closely.

The 52-year-old man, who worked at the school from 2002 to 2014, is accused of sexually assaulting over a dozen learners in a decade. 

He appeared before the Johannesburg High Court yesterday for a pre-trial.

He faces 25 charges in total for sexual assault, grooming and child abuse.

The mother, whose two sons were taught by the teacher, said that he groomed them and gained their trust by spending so much time with them, often at school outings where the alleged abuse incidents happened.

She said that they told her they felt shame, which is why they only spoke out after another learner reported the matter to the police in 2021.

At the time, the school released a statement saying that they take their duty to care for students seriously, adding that they will do everything to help rid the school of sexual predators.

The mother of the victims said it was a little too late.

"People like this will find their way into institutions where they can have access and the institutions need to start to be gatekeepers to this type of behaviour, because they are trained in how to look for it, they are just not doing their jobs."

The accused will return to court on 20 November for the start of his trial.