A former St John’s Preparatory School teacher has been granted R10,000 bail after being arrested for allegedly molesting a then 12-year-old boy nearly two decades ago.
Teacher accused of grooming Julio Mordoh out on bail
The 52-year-old suspect, who cannot be named until he has entered a plea, appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The accused was taken into custody at his home in Craighall on Friday and faces charges of sexual assault and sexual grooming.
The State did not oppose bail but requested that he report to his nearest police station weekly.
According to reports, the court ruled that he must check in every Sunday and cannot leave Gauteng without prior approval.
The case has been postponed to 8 April 2025.
What his current court case is about
The charges stem from incidents that allegedly took place on the premises of St John’s Preparatory School.
However, the victim in the current case was not a student at the school at the time of the alleged abuse.
According to court documents, the accused used his position to groom and abuse minors over a period of several years. Investigators have been working to determine whether additional victims could come forward.
His legal team argued against strict bail conditions, citing his work as a consultant in the solar energy sector, which sometimes requires travel outside of Gauteng.
The court maintained the requirement for regular check-ins and barred him from contacting state witnesses.
How the St John’s teacher is linked to Julio Mordoh’s suicide
The accused has also been implicated in the case of Julio Mordoh, a former St John’s pupil who died by suicide at a psychiatric facility in November 2022.
Mordoh’s parents allege that their son was sexually abused by the accused while attending St John’s, leading to severe psychological trauma that contributed to his death.
In a civil lawsuit, Mordoh’s family is suing the accused, St John’s College, its former headmaster, and the psychiatric clinic where Julio died. Their goal, they say, is to hold those responsible accountable for failing to protect their son.
On the second anniversary of Julio’s death, civil summonses were served on multiple parties, including the school and the Anglican Church, which oversees the institution, per Daily Maverick.
The lawsuit argues that St John’s failed in its duty of care by not taking action against the accused when concerns were first raised.
Julio’s parents have been vocal in demanding systemic changes to prevent further cases of abuse.
“Julio thought he was the only one,” his mother, Teresa, said.
“Now we know that wasn’t true, and we will not stop fighting for justice.”