Mother says ex-St John’s teacher made her son feel uneasy before abuse trial
A mother told a Johannesburg court on Monday that former St John’s Preparatory School teacher Nicholson made her son feel “a bit uncomfortable” before allega...
A mother told a Johannesburg court on Monday that former St John’s Preparatory School teacher Nicholson made her son feel “a bit uncomfortable” before allegations of sexual abuse came to light. The testimony came as the former teacher faced a pre-trial hearing in a case that has already drawn in multiple complainants from different provinces.
The woman said she only learned during the reading of the indictment that her son was one of the complainants. Her evidence added another layer to a case that alleges abuse over a 10-year period while the man, now 52, worked at the school.
Mother recalls warning signs
Her comments were measured, but the message was clear. She said Nicholson gave her son a sense of discomfort. That feeling, she told the court, did not at first point to a specific allegation, but it stood out to her.
The former teacher has appeared before the Johannesburg High Court for a pre-trial hearing and faces charges including sexual assault, grooming and child abuse. The allegations involve young men who say they were abused while still at school, including on outings and at camps.
One mother described the impact on her child in stark terms, saying he has “never been the same”. Another said the boys still carry the trauma years later. They spoke of shame, anger and emotional distance. Heavy words, and familiar ones in abuse cases that surface long after the school gates have closed.
A case stretching across years and provinces
The allegations are not confined to one incident or one place. According to the material before the court, victims from the same school have cases in different provinces because the reported incidents took place over a decade and during school-related trips. That spread makes the case broader than a single classroom or a single complaint.
For the families, the court process has forced private pain into public view. For prosecutors, it now means proving a pattern that allegedly unfolded over many years. For schools, it is another reminder that safeguarding failures can surface long after staff have left the campus.
The matter continues in the Johannesburg High Court. And the mothers who have spoken so far say their children are still living with the aftermath.
