Social worker recommends home confinement for convicted child sex offender
A social worker has recommended home confinement for convicted sex offender Iain Wares, drawing strong criticism from child-protection group Women & Men Against Child Abuse.
Social worker Arina Smit recommended home confinement for Iain Wares, a convicted child sex offender, during pre-sentencing arguments at Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on September 23, 2026. Wares, an 87-year-old former teacher, was convicted for indecent assault on a learner in 1988 at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School. Smit testified that Wares' urges and tendencies were "controlled," based on his history of no repeated offenses.
However, Smit also acknowledged that Wares is an "incurable paedophile." WMACA, present at the proceedings, criticized Smit's assessment, stating that she did not consider the impact on victims of child sexual abuse. The state prosecutor, Rafieka Cornelius, emphasized that such offenses cause lifelong suffering to victims. Pre-sentencing proceedings are set to continue on September 28.
Wares also faces extradition to the UK in connection with alleged sexual abuse of 65 boys between 1968 and 1979 while working as a teacher and rugby coach in Edinburgh.
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