A state social worker has told the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court that convicted child sex offender Iain Wares should be sentenced to direct imprisonment, arguing that the seriousness of his crimes and their impact on children cannot be adequately addressed through a suspended sentence or house arrest.

Wares appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court, Eastern Cape, on Monday for pre-sentencing proceedings, where State social worker Phumzile Sithole gave evidence on the appropriate sentence.

Her evidence differed from that of a social worker paid by the defence, who previously described Wares as an “incurable paedophile”, according to Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA).

Sithole told the court that Wares remained unrepentant and had continued to deny the offences and blame others for his conviction.

She argued that imprisonment was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the crimes, protect children and serve as a deterrent.

A key part of her evidence focused on the lasting impact of sexual abuse on children.

Sithole highlighted the trauma suffered by children who are sexually abused and told the court that the consequences can continue long after the abuse has ended.

She also pointed to Wares’ position as a teacher, saying the offences involved an abuse of authority and a violation of the responsibility attached to working with children.

According to WMACA, Sithole told the court that the abuse was planned and took place repeatedly at a school.

The organisation’s Cape Town representative and author, Claudine Shiels, attended the proceedings and welcomed Sithole’s evidence.

“It was a relief to hear the bold expert testimony of a professional Social Worker with knowledge and experience, that confirmed that victims of childhood trauma struggle to recover,” Shiels said.

She said Sithole had maintained her position despite questioning from the defence and had highlighted the broader problem of child abuse in South Africa.

Shiels said the organisation supported Sithole’s view that a suspended sentence or house arrest would not be an adequate response.

The sentencing hearing has also brought renewed attention to the consequences faced by victims of childhood sexual abuse.

WMACA founder Miranda Jordan said a non-custodial sentence would fail to reflect what she described as the seriousness of the offences.

“House arrest or a suspended sentence would allow him to carry on living his peaceful everyday life, totally unaffected. A slap in the face of his many victims,” Jordan said.

She also referred to more than 90 charges Wares is expected to face in Scotland, saying the organisation wanted him to serve a period of imprisonment in South Africa before any extradition proceedings.

Wares has continued to deny the crimes for which he was convicted, according to WMACA.

The organisation also criticised what it described as his failure to take responsibility for his actions.

The court has not yet imposed a sentence.

Final arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence are scheduled to begin at 11 am on 23 October 2026.

Wares is expected to be sentenced after those arguments have been heard.

For survivors of child sexual abuse and their families, the sentencing process represents another stage in a case that has focused attention on the vulnerability of children and the responsibilities of adults entrusted with their care.

The court will ultimately determine the appropriate sentence after considering the evidence presented in mitigation and aggravation.

Until then, the State’s call for imprisonment remains a submission to the court, while the defence will have an opportunity to make its own arguments before sentence is imposed.