Call for info in Hewitt probe

Tennis legend Bob Hewitt.

Tennis legend Bob Hewitt.

Published Nov 3, 2012

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Durban - The South African Police Services have called on the public to come forward with any further information on sexual allegations against former tennis star Bob Hewitt.

Any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sgt Delene Grobler, based in Joburg, on 071 604 5836.

In December, Suellen Sheehan from Joburg laid a charge of rape at the Honeydew Police Station related to when she was a teen and being coached by Hewitt. The sex allegation scandal surrounding Hewitt broke last year when US pro tennis player, Heather Conner Crowe (51), who was coached by Hewitt, went public with claims that she had been coerced into sex with Hewitt when she was only 15.

Crowe confirmed that she had also filed charges of rape in the US two years ago.

“There were no other victims at the time and the District Attorney’s office chose not to pursue based on that. I didn’t pursue it either because my original intent was never malicious. In fact I had to speak out and seek help because of what it was doing to me,” she said.

The Boston Globe launched an intensive investigation regarding the allegations, with nine women from around the world coming forward with similar allegations.

Hewitt was South Africa’s “golden boy” of the international tennis circuit in the ’60s and ’70s, as well as becoming a well-known tennis commentator after his tennis career.

He was ranked as one of the best doubles players in tennis history and was inducted into the International tennis Hall of Fame along with his partner Frew Macmillan. They are the only two South Africans to have been inducted into the hall.

The Hall of Fame also launched their own inquiry into the allegations and are still to release their findings.

Another former South African tennis player, Twiggy Tolken, now living in New Zealand and also coached by Hewitt when she was a teen, has confirmed she still has damning letters allegedly written by Hewitt during that time.

And while Hewitt did not respond to any requests for comments from the media, he finally went public in an interview with You Magazine last month, flatly denying the allegations of sexual abuse.

Now in his 70s, Hewitt is retired and living on his farm in Addo in the Cape.

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