Cape Town - One of the victims of an alleged paedophile ring that operated at a Cape Town circus school in the 1970s is investigating the possibility of laying charges, four decades later, against two members of what has been branded “a cult” that preyed on young boys.
Dieter Senger, 52, who now lives in the Netherlands, says he cannot afford to travel to South Africa to lay charges, so taking his complaint further would be possible only if charges could be laid from overseas.
Last Sunday, Weekend Argus blew the lid off the alleged child sex ring.
Victims spoke out after the death of circus school boss Keith Anderson, who drew accolades for his work with children.
The city theatre celebrity died in his sleep at a Salvation Army old age home on May 3, aged 76.
Two victims then spoke publicly for the first time, alleging that they and other boys were raped, abused and assaulted by Anderson and his circle of friends, to whom the boys were “passed around”.
Senger, one of the alleged victims, said afterwards that the truth had been hidden for too long and it was time for members of the group who were still alive to be brought to justice.
According to a senior member of the Cape Bar, there is a general 20-year rule of prescription in criminal matters.
“In general, there can be no criminal prosecution in respect of conduct committed more than 20 years ago. However, in cases of this nature, that rule probably doesn’t apply and a criminal prosecution could go ahead, despite the fact that the conduct took place 40 years ago,” he said.
Weekend Argus approached one of the alleged paedophiles this week for comment on the potential charges.
The former Cape Town hotelier declined to comment but said that last Sunday’s article had been brought to his attention. He had been saddened by what he read.
The man, who later that same day engaged one of Cape Town’s top criminal lawyers, said he was taken aback at the claims of his involvement.
The other man implicated, who allegedly worked with Anderson at the time of the abuse, was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, Senger said his revelations had been met with much negativity, described by a friend as like “being raped and abused all over again”.
At the time of the abuse, Senger said, his only coping mechanism was to switch off completely.
“I had no emotions. When it happened to me I just stepped out of my body.
“But when I was in the ring and on the flying trapeze that’s where I was safe because he couldn’t touch me there.”
Senger appealed to other victims to come forward. He said it
“wasn’t a few boys”, but potentially hundreds over the years.
“I feel very alone now. There are many more, but I don’t think they dare to come forward,” he added.
Last weekend another alleged victim refused to be named but was visibly traumatised, shocked and angry when he told his story.
He said he was 12 when Anderson, then running Circus Osler, raped him and other boys in Anderson’s caravan.
“I know for a fact there were other boys because I was there,” he told Weekend Argus.
Meanwhile, a planned wake on Friday at the Zip Zap Circus was called off. The circus is run by Brent van Rensburg, who was trained by Anderson.
Las Vegas entertainer Charles Strachan, who was assisting with the wake, told Weekend Argus it had been cancelled.
There were no plans for an alternative event.
Strachan, who also attended the circus school when he was young, said the news of Anderson’s “other side” was devastating.
“At first I was angry at the slander, but I spoke with people and the reality is that we all did sort of know, but it didn’t happen in front of our eyes,” Strachan said.
Weekend Argus