Social worker recommends home confinement for convicted child sex offender - IOL

Former teacher Iain Wares appears in the dock at the Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town, where he was found guilty in a historic abuse case.

Convicted child sex offender and former South African teacher Iain Wares was described as an incurable paedophile who also had urges and tendencies that were under control but was a candidate for home confinement as his sentence.

This was revealed by social worker Arina Smit, who testified in his defence during pre-sentencing arguments at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Wares was convicted earlier this year for the indecent assault of a former learner at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School in 1988.

Women & Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA), who were present at the 87-year-old Wares’ sentencing proceedings, said Smit was cross-examined by state prosecutor Rafieka Cornelius after giving evidence.

WMACA’s Cape Town representative and author, Claudine Shiels, was also present in court.

During cross-examination, Smit admitted that Wares is an incurable paedophile.

WMACA said she also testified that, after teaching in Scotland, he “had his urges and tendencies under control.”

“Despite his recent conviction for indecent assault at Rondebosch Preparatory School contradicting this assertion, Ms Smit made the deplorable observation that ‘it was only once, and one must look at the frequency of offences’,” WMACA said in response to the proceedings.

“Ms Smit also testified that victims of child sexual offences often withhold disclosure because of guilt, shame or fear. However, she also stated that her conclusion regarding Mr Wares’ ‘controlled’ urges was based on ‘no other victims coming forward’.”

“It was made clear to the court, following questions by the State and the Magistrate, that Ms Smit’s assessment of Mr Wares followed interviews with him and his family, and that no further, broader verifications were conducted.”

Smit’s sentencing proposal for Wares consisted of home confinement, with allowances for medical appointments, legal commitments, and shopping for groceries.

However, the State said Wares’ life would therefore remain exactly the same, with no changes to his living conditions, arrangements or habits.

“It was also stressed by the State, with Ms Smit’s full agreement, that victims of child sexual abuse suffer severe, lifelong effects. In this case, the complainant has suffered for decades, since the age of 12 years,” WMACA explained.

“Ms Smit was asked several times if she believes that an unchanged lifestyle was a just sentence for Mr Wares’ crime.

“She would not waver in her sentencing recommendation, continually focusing on Mr Wares’ well-being, and showing little concern for the victim of his heinous abuse. At one point, she referred to the crime as ‘this one event’ in the complainant’s life, which could have contained other traumas.”

Shiels said she was glad that none of the parties affected by Wares’ alleged crimes were present in court to hear the recommendation.

“I was so relieved that no [known] victim of Mr Wares’ sexual and physical abuse, nor anyone else affected by these crimes, was present in court to hear testimony that appeared to enable and minimise his conduct, with the potential to set back the healing process and contribute to further revictimisation.”

Pre-sentencing proceedings continue on September 28.

Earlier, Smit described Wares as a timid, non-aggressive and anxious man who had been abused by his mother. She said he was physically frail and unlikely to reoffend.

Wares is also facing extradition to the UK. Authorities allege that he was behind the sexual abuse of 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.