Abuse Contradicts Himself in Bail Hearing
CCN Newsroom
Paarl: – A 55-year-old man from Franschhoek, previously convicted of statutory rape, was back in court today, Friday October 24th, facing serious child sexual abuse and child pornography charges.
His identity is withheld to protect the minors involved.
He was arrested on 16 August after a video circulated online showing him allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl in her school uniform. He now faces three charges: creating and sharing child pornography, sexual grooming of a minor, and possession of child pornography.
During his bail hearing in September, the accused repeatedly contradicted himself. He first claimed he had sexual contact with the minor only once, in June 2024, but later admitted the girl allegedly contacted him again in October. He also admitted making videos of both incidents and initially said the minor recorded them, but later admitted he sent the videos to her himself.
He defended his actions by saying the minor had “made herself available” and that it was a “moment of weakness.” The state questioned why he had been allowed to teach extra lessons and transport learners, despite his previous conviction.
AO James Smith, an investigator with the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit, said the accused is a danger to the community and should not be granted bail. Additional alleged victims have also come forward, including a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly abused at age 11.
The bail hearing continues, with the court scheduled to hear a statement from a Franschhoek resident opposing his release. The accused remains in custody while police continue their investigation and examine the video evidence.
