Model boss ‘not a paedophile’

The social worker in the case against model agency boss Dawie de Villiers, whose sentencing continued yesterday, told the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday that although he had been convicted of sexual offences, she did not believe he was a paedophile.

The Modelling South Africa founder was found guilty of rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming, fraud, exposing pornography to children and access to child pornography in February 2017.

“The conclusion one comes to is that the accused has a problem with controlling himself when it comes to young girls,” social worker Carina Wolmarans said.

But she believed that if De Villiers was a paedophile there would be more charges against him.

She said that after reading the victims’ testimonies, it was normal that they had been emotional while testifying because they had been humiliated. “She [the rape victim] was traumatised and traumatised again while testifying.”

Wolmarans said most of the victims could not be reached via their contact details after they had testified, which did not surprise her. “Regarding the victims’ emotional state, which I have never mentioned because I never had contact with them, my comment is that all the girls were definitely traumatised.”

Wolmarans read her supplementary report into the record, stating that the rape victim, who was 15 at the time, had said in her victim impact statement she had lost trust in men and fell pregnant while she was at school.

Wolmarans said one of the fraud victims had said his marriage had failed due to his involvement with De Villiers, whom he accused of ruining his life and those of the young models.

Another victim had said she was so disgusted by De Villiers’ conduct that she had lost interest in modelling, adding that he had shown no remorse.

“The accused targeted young scholars because they were all of the same age. They were young girls.”

Wolmarans said she had a problem with the fact that there were so many girls involved, but she was not clear on the likelihood of De Villiers reoffending. She said there were no new cases after 2012, which indicated he could be rehabilitated.

Judge Cassim Moosa put it to her that there were two types of offenders: those who had to be taken out of society and those who could remain in society. He asked her whether she thought De Villiers should be removed from society or not.

Wolmarans said she believed that he should be removed from society for a short period of time, such as five years partially suspended, for the purpose of rehabilitation rather than punishment.

She added that she also felt correctional supervision would be appropriate.

The matter continues today. – ANA