Cape Town - A convicted paedophile, who committed suicide in police holding cells, will not be taking his secrets to the grave.
The Daily Voice has managed to view the diary of Brian Shofer which is in possession of a source close to him.
In the red Lever arch file, he chronicles how he raped young boys, and was the victim of abuse himself.
Shofer, 58, wrote that he was sexually molested by his uncle as a 13-year-old, and that his father knew about it, but failed to intervene.
In graphic detail, he also noted that during a stint in prison in the 1990s, he was sodomised by prisoners after they heard he was in for molesting children.
Slipped into the file was submission letter for parole, dated May 1, 2008, in which he claimed to feel remorse for his sick crimes, and wanted to ask his little victims’ families, the community, and his father for forgiveness.
The memoirs, in which Shofer documents his troubled life, and contains pictures and accolades, include the 13 psychiatric programmes he “aced” while at Brandvlei and Drakenstein Correctional Facilities.
He claimed the wardens and prison psychiatrists had “enormous respect” for him.
Shofer was found dead in a Mitchells Plain police holding cell on Friday after he hanged himself with a blanket.
He was arrested after his elderly landlord saw him on the front page of the Daily Voice on Monday, and called police. Police took in two young men, aged 25 and 18, the latter admitting that Shofer raped him.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Western Cape spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, the teen was repeatedly raped over six years, from the age of 12. Shofer was released from prison six years ago.
The 70-year-old landlord said his tenant claimed the two were his adopted sons.
The teacher made headlines after he advertised tutoring services for kids, from Grades 2 to 11, on Gumtree.
Shofer claimed that he was rehabilitated and that parents were aware of his criminal record.
His convictions date back to 1994. His first victims, mainly from Mitchells Plain, were aged between seven and 14.
He was jailed for several counts of indecent assault, before being released on parole.
Shofer re-offended after setting up a youth centre in Hanover Park.
He was released from prison in 2010.
A parent who has a child at Lourier Primary School in Retreat said he had still been teaching there until last term.
Police say Shofer’s suicide comes as they were formulating more charges against him.
These include: a rape case in Steenberg, a sexual assault case in Mitchells Plain, a sexual assault case in Hanover Park, and 18 cases of sexual assault involving street children in Strand, where he used to reside.
Shofer has also been linked to several Cape Flats schools, including Garlandale High and Tafelsig High.
His diary, written in a neat handwriting, revealed that he studied teaching through Unisa, graduating with six distinctions.
He also had friends who believed he was rehabilitated and took him all over Cape Town, finding him work and places to stay.
On the final page of his submission for parole, he begs for a second chance at life.
“I am truly sorry for my deeds...” he wrote.
“To my beloved father who is still alive and loves and supports me, my chaplain, members of correctional services and the Almighty, [thank you] for transforming me into the being I have become.”
Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Robbie Raburabu said a post-mortem would be conducted on Shofer’s body.
“It is believed he tore off the edge of his blanket and hanged himself on the door. The results of his autopsy will be released in this week,” he said.
Daily Voice