Johannesburg - Marchers waved placards and shouted slogans on Friday as they waited for former grand slam tennis doubles champion Bob Hewitt to arrive at the Boksburg Magistrate's Court.
Organisations such as the Northfield Methodist Church and Women and Men against Child Abuse shouted in unison: “Man up! Admit what you did!”
They held placards that read “Abuse is not okay” and “Protect our kids from sexual predators”.
The Associated Press (AP) news agency reported in June that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had served a summons on the 73-year-old Hewitt on June 15.
The NPA said Hewitt was ordered to appear at the court on August 16, where he will learn what criminal charges he faces.
Hewitt, 73, has denied molesting young girls he coached in South Africa decades ago, following reports alleging this.
One woman arrived and sobbed softly while hugging one of the women from the support groups.
She declined to speak to journalists, but allowed photographs of herself.
There was no sign of Hewitt at 8.30am.
The NPA said it would only reveal the charges he faced in court. - Sapa