A former teacher of an elite Cape Town boys’ school is facing sex offence charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a pupil almost 40 years ago between 1984 and 1987 at the Western Province Preparatory School in Claremont.
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David Price (76), was a cricket coach at the school during the period that the alleged assault took place.
As reported by News24 – Western Province Preparatory School announced an audit of historical sex abuse committed during its 108-year history last year, 2022, as a “proactive response” following ongoing investigations into abuse of children at institutions across the country.
Former headmaster and communique to the school community, Simon Weaver, announced the audit and the school’s decision to install windows on all the doors of classrooms where teachers speak to students one-on-one.
Weaver said, “I do know that stuff did happen here.”
The school could not be reached for comment.
News24 reported that the former student alleges to have first been assaulted when he was about 10 years old in 1985 while showering at school. After that, the teacher would “contrive situations to get me alone”. He was forced to touch the teacher’s genitals and warned not to tell as nobody would believe him.
Cape Town lawyer Asghar Mia of Mia Attorneys said that there are challenges in prosecuting a case which took place almost 40 years ago. In the absence of evidence or an eyewitness, it inevitably boils down to “he said, she said”.
Mia said, “There would be no medical evidence or clinical findings to corroborate the allegations.”
“This does not mean that seeking justice is futile.”
“There is no statute of limitations for such cases. All available evidence and versions are tested, from the complainant and the accused, whereafter the presiding officer must make a value judgment based on what was presented.”
The accused previously taught in the UK, where he faced extradition on charges of sexual assault of 10 children prior to the charges in South Africa.
Price now lives in a retirement community in Cape Town, which has a playschool on its premises.
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Picture: Western Province Preparatory School / Facebook