Cape Town - A convicted paedophile who offered tutoring services to children was still teaching at a Cape Town primary school as recently as last term.
Shocked parents say the 58-year-old suspect taught different subjects, and regularly took young boys out after school and over weekends.
“It was always just the boys he took out. I am sick to my stomach,” said one mother.
“I am taking my child to the doctor to get tested and he is also receiving counselling.”
Brian Shofer, who was arrested for rape at his rented home in Mitchells Plain on Monday made a brief appearance in court on Wednesday.
He allegedly sexually abused an 18-year-old boy who had been living with him and a 25-year-old man in the one-bedroom flat in London Village.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said: “The 18-year-old told police that he was raped several times by the accused.”
Van Wyk said the teenager had professed that the rapes started six years ago, when he was 12.
The 58-year-old made headlines this week, after it was found he had been advertising tutoring services on Gumtree.
Shofer said the parents of the children knew of his criminal record, and that he saw nothing wrong with working with children.
His criminal record for sexual assault cases dates back to 1994, when he was convicted for abusing boys aged between seven and 14 in Mitchells Plain.
He was released on parole but re-offended after setting up a youth centre in Hanover Park.
Shofer began advertising tutoring services in 2012, two years after he was released from prison.
The principal of Lourier Primary School in Retreat admitted to employing him earlier this year, where he taught Mathematics, Life Orientation and English.
The principal referred queries to the Western Cape Education Department.
However, the WCED’s Jessica Shelver said they were unaware of Shofer’s appointment, as he was hired by the school’s governing body.
“He was employed by the SGB from April to June,” she said.
“We are very concerned about these allegations and are investigating as our top priority. We will be providing counselling and support to the school and learners.”
Shelver added that while the WCED screened teachers in its employ, SGB posts were made at the school’s own discretion.
The mother of an 11-year-old Grade 4 learner at Lourier Primary was shocked to learn her child’s teacher was a convicted paedophile.
“It makes my skin crawl to think this man was anywhere near my children,” said the woman who asked to remain anonymous.
“He was here for the second term only. He taught different subjects and classes and my child would not stop talking about how nice he was.
“Sometimes he would take the boys out after school or on weekends and buy them stuff and teach them stuff. That is what my boy said.
“He went out a few times and nothing seemed to be out of place.
“When I saw him, he was always polite and spoke very highly of my child.
“Now I wonder what the hell he did to my child and all the other boys, all aged between 9 and 12.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Shofer appeared at the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on a charge of rape.
He was arrested after his elderly landlord saw him on the front page of the Daily Voice on Monday, and called police.
The landlord said Shofer had told him the 18 and 25-year-old men were his adopted sons.
On Wednesday, Shofer walked confidently into the packed courtroom, where he requested a legal aid lawyer.
State prosecutor Farieda Jacobs said: “We also need a bail profile on the accused but we can confirm the case will be a schedule six offence. The complainant in this matter was 12 years old at the time of the offences.”
Shofer will be held at the Lentegeur Police Station until his next appearance on Thursday.
Daily Voice