Johannesburg – South Africa has agreed to extradite 85-year-old retired teacher Iain Wares, who is wanted in Scotland for at least 74 historic sexual offences involving boys.
Wares faces accusations of abuse by scores of former pupils of Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College, in the UK, where he taught in the 1960s and 70s.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane has approved the extradition of a former South African teacher back to the United Kingdom to face child sexual abuse charges.
The BBC reports that its presenter Nicky Campbell is among those who have made allegations against the former teacher.
Prosecutors in Scotland requested Wares’ extradition in 2018, leading to his arrest in May 2019 on seven charges of lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour.
On Friday, South Africa’s Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said the application and supporting processes, in terms of the Extradition Act, 67 of 1962, had been set in motion for Wares’ extradition.
The accused, who now lives in Cape Town, South Africa, opposed the extradition.
However, on 8 August 2024, the Western Cape High Court confirmed the Magistrate’s decision that Wares was liable to be extradited to the UK.
The Court also declared section 10(1) of the Extradition Act unconstitutional.
The department explained that any decision that invalidates provincial or parliamentary legislation or any conduct of the President must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court before it has any effect in terms of section 167(5) of the Constitution.
“Earlier today, we received correspondence from Mr. Wares legal representatives indicating that they will be consulting with their client on whether to appeal the judgment further,” said Tsekiso Machike spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
“Issues of Gender-based violence and sexual offences are taken seriously and in the interests of justice, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development is intent that Mr. Wares is extradited soonest so that he faces the charges against him.
“Should he pursue this appeal, the Minister will vehemently oppose this matter.”
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