Fourth extradition warrant served for international paedophile Iain Wares

Advocacy group, Women and Men Against Children Abuse (WMACA) has welcomed the 4th extradition warrant served against international self-confessed paedophile Iain Wares, whose warrant was served this week.

This comes as the 86-year-old former South African teacher recently handed himself over to the Simonstown Magistrates’ Court, where he was formally arrested under Warrant 4 — the latest and consolidated UK extradition request charging him with the sexual and physical abuse of 65 prepubescent boys in Scotland during the 1960s and 1970s.

His charge sheet lists more than 90 charges, with his latest consolidated UK consolidation request charging him with the sexual and physical abuse of 65 boys.

Two weeks ago, while in court, Wares, who is facing a separate matter in Cape Town, dating back to four decades on alleged indecent assault of a former learner of Rondebosch Boys Preparatory, denied the allegations against him while taking the witness stand.

Last year, the Western Cape High Court ruled that Wares could be extradited on three charges to face trial in Scotland. However, this extradition was delayed as UK authorities sought to submit further charges against him. 

Alex Talbot for the Women and Men Against Children Abuse (WMACA) indicated that the extradition warrant comes after more than four decades of evasion and seven or more years of bureaucratic delay.

“This arrest marks a watershed moment for survivors and advocates in both South Africa and the United Kingdom. Wares was reportedly granted bail and will return to court on 20 November 2025, when the magistrate will determine whether he is extraditable on charges in warrant 4.”

It is reported that once the magistrate rules, the Department of Justice through Minister’s discretion is expected to issue a Section 11 surrender warrant for Interpol to facilitate Wares’ arrest and extradition to the UK.

Speaking on behalf of victims, Neil Douglas, spokesperson for the UK survivors and a survivor himself said Wares arrest is a watershed moment for his 65 victims, who have endured pain and trauma inflicted by the former teacher.

“The arrest of Iain Wares for the abuse of boys in Scotland is a moment of release for many of us. This man sexually and physically abused hundreds of boys and has escaped justice for over half a century. It is only through the tireless work of WMACA and the survivors that we have got to this point. When the message came through saying he had been arrested, I cried. I cannot believe that maybe — finally — he will answer for his crimes in a Scottish court," said Douglas.

Over the years some of Wares’ UK victims have accused the Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College of failing to alert the authorities to complaints against Wares. The victims say this has enabled him to flee to South Africa in 1979, where he continued teaching until his retirement in 2006. 

Miranda Jordan, the founding director of WMACA slammed the delays and leniency in the case saying: “WMACA fought to bring this case to court, meeting with Justice officials and keeping pressure on through the media — even when it made us unpopular. For seven years, Wares dodged justice with legal tricks and secret funders helping him.”