Former Pretoria school principal Martin Kotze, who was facing charges of sexual grooming and exposing minors to pornography, has taken his own life.
Martin Kotze dies: Here’s what we know about his cause of death
His death was confirmed on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, just days before he was scheduled to appear in court again.
Kotze was arrested on 13 December 2024 following an investigation that began in August 2024, when a complaint was filed against him. As the case progressed, more than a dozen victims came forward, leading to additional charges.
He faced four counts related to sexual grooming of children and three counts of exposing or displaying pornography to minors. The victims were all boys between the ages of 13 and 18.
During his alleged interactions with the boys, Kotze reportedly coerced them into playing a “truth-or-dare” game in which he would send them explicit videos of himself and encourage them to do the same.
Kotze first appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in December 2024 and was granted bail of R10,000 on 31 December 2024, despite the State opposing his release.
Notably, his bail was approved without any conditions.
His next court appearance was scheduled for Thursday, 28 March 2025, where he was expected to face further questioning as investigations continued.
The allegations against Kotze spanned several years, with some victims claiming he used his authority to manipulate and exploit vulnerable students.
Kotze’s arrest was part of a joint operation involving South African law enforcement, the FBI, and the US Department of Homeland Security.
Authorities worked together to track his online activities and communications, which led to the discovery of multiple victims.
At the time of his arrest, three victims had been officially identified, with law enforcement attempting to locate at least six more potential victims.
