Midlands sexual abuse scandal: Hilton man faces fresh charges

Charges and police handling

The new complaint and the reopened 2017 docket have both been transferred to the Pietermaritzburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for investigation, a Hilton police officer confirmed. The transfer indicates that investigators with specific mandates for family and child protection will now handle the matters.

Growing list of complainants

Private investigator Brad Nathanson, who has been gathering evidence in the matter, told reporters the number of women who have contacted him has risen to 77, up from 60 when the matter was last reported two weeks earlier. He described the scale of contacts as striking.

“The allegations, if substantiated, could make this one of SA’s largest sexual misconduct investigations involving a single alleged perpetrator,”

Nathanson also said all 77 women had independently identified the same man without prompting. He reported that none of them provided any other name when asked.

“Not even one gave me another name. I told them that they had to give me a name before I would speak to them,”

Nature of allegations reported to investigators

Accounts assembled by Nathanson and the complainants describe a range of alleged conduct spanning many years. Specific allegations in the reporting include:

• Unsolicited sexually explicit photographs sent to a girl who was reportedly 11 years old at the time.
• Complaints that some recipients were in Grade 7 or 8 when they received explicit images, with several describing the behaviour as being so common it was viewed as an unofficial rite of passage.
• A teenage complainant who provided police with a lengthy affidavit alleging a sexual relationship that lasted for more than a year without her family’s knowledge.
• Reports and photographs suggesting a professional cleaning company was hired to clean the man’s outside bedroom at his parents’ property while the family was away, with the crew reportedly spending a full day cleaning the room.
• One complainant who was reportedly 70 years old at the time of her alleged encounter.

Schools and historical allegations

Nathanson told reporters that about 90% of the women who contacted him said they had attended the same private school in the Midlands. The reopened 2017 case relates to historical allegations involving schoolgirls at a private Midlands school, according to his account.

The man’s mother was also reported to teach at another private school in the area, according to Nathanson’s statements to the press.

Community reaction and ongoing contact

Nathanson said community members in Hilton were watching the man’s movements and that some residents had been taking photographs and passing updates to him. He described local residents as awaiting intervention by law enforcement.

“Some community members have been taking pictures of him and I keep getting updates,”

“They are waiting for law enforcement.”

He also said a woman who had previously blocked the man after receiving sexually explicit messages reportedly unblocked him after seeing publicity about the investigation and then received further messages.

Scope and timespan of allegations

According to the reporting, the allegations span roughly 18 years, and several of the complainants are now adults with families who were initially reluctant to revisit experiences that date back a decade or longer. Nathanson has suggested the number of known complainants may not reflect the full extent of alleged conduct.

What this means and what to expect next

With both dockets moved to the Pietermaritzburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, the investigation will be handled by a specialised team trained to deal with family and child-related sexual offences. In general, such units typically gather statements, corroborating evidence and digital records where applicable before making decisions about charging and court referrals. The timelines for these processes can vary depending on the volume and age of allegations and the availability of evidence.

For complainants and communities, the reopening of historical cases can be an important step in ensuring alleged incidents are examined by the criminal justice system. It also often requires sensitive handling of witness statements and historical records.

Why some survivors delay reporting

Many survivors of sexual misconduct and abuse delay reporting for reasons that include fear, shame, concern about the response of authorities or the potential social consequences of speaking out. The reporting in this case noted that several women were initially reluctant to revisit experiences dating back years or decades, a pattern commonly observed in historical abuse matters.

Current status

As of the latest reporting, the new complaint and the reopened 2017 docket are under the jurisdiction of the Pietermaritzburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation. Private investigator Brad Nathanson continues to collect statements and evidence from complainants, and he has reported that 77 women have so far come forward and identified the same man.

The developments mark a continuing and evolving investigation that authorities and the private investigator say may uncover additional complainants. Readers should expect updates from official police statements and court processes as the matters progress.