Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) has expressed concern over what it describes as continued attempts by former teacher and accused serial offender, 86-year-old Iain Wares, to evade accountability through selective memory and inconsistent testimony.
The organisation monitored proceedings in the Wynberg Regional Court on Tuesday, where the cross-examination of Wares resumed.
Wares, who once worked as a rugby coach and Grade 7 geography teacher in South Africa, is also the subject of significant historical abuse allegations in the United Kingdom.
He has been accused by numerous former pupils from Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College, where he taught during the 1960s and 70s. It is revealed that in August last year, the High Court in Cape Town ruled that Wares could be extradited to Scotland to face three charges.
However, the extradition process was paused after UK authorities signalled their intention to submit additional charges.
Those new charges have now been formally filed by 65 individuals, who allege they were sexually or physically abused by Wares during his time teaching in Scotland.
It is revealed that during South African proceedings, Wares testified that he taught approximately 2 700 boys during his career, a number he cited to justify his inability to recall individual learners.
However, WMACA noted that he was able to remember specific cricket players who later became well-known figures, raising questions about the credibility of his claimed memory lapses.
WMACA said the testimony once again highlighted how entrenched power structures historically insulated adults in positions of authority, making it difficult for young people to speak out.
The organisation's Director Miranda Jordan said the organisation remains troubled by what it sees as ongoing attempts to minimise past behaviour.
“Every day that a serial offender can stand in court and sidestep accountability through selective memory is another indictment of the systems that enabled him. Survivors have carried these memories for decades. Institutions must carry the responsibility,” Jordan said.
WMACA Advocacy Manager Luke Lamprecht praised the state for its firm line of questioning during cross-examination.
“Ware’s testimony shows how easily institutional narratives can distort abuse. I was very impressed with the prosecutor’s cross-examination. She challenged him directly, suggesting his repeated claims of memory loss were being used to avoid accountability and answering the State’s questions,” Lamprecht said.
He added that the prosecutor also questioned the idea that the complainant fabricated their account, saying the evidence supports accepting the survivor’s version.
Wares, who now resides in Cape Town, is facing legal action on two fronts: the local case currently before the Wynberg Regional Court and the extradition proceedings brought by Scottish authorities. Closing arguments in the South African matter are scheduled for 19 February 2026.
WMACA says it will continue supporting survivors in both countries and is urging legal systems to ensure that alleged offenders cannot use age, status, or strategic claims of memory loss to deflect responsibility for actions committed while holding positions of authority.
Saturday Star