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Public Interest SA Welcomes Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett's Retirement Amid Sexual Allegations 

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MEDIA STATEMENT 

 

Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, 22 January 2025 - Public Interest SA welcomes the news of Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett's retirement from the Johannesburg and Cape bars following historic sexual harassment allegations levelled against him. These allegations, raised by complainant Hylton White, detail disturbing incidents of abuse that reportedly occurred more than 50 years ago. While the allegations remain untested, we view Gauntlett's decision to step down as an important step toward accountability and a signal of the need for greater scrutiny of power dynamics within the legal profession. 

 

White’s allegations came to light after the Anglican Church appointed Gauntlett to a panel tasked with examining the activities of the late John Smyth, a known serial abuser accused of sexually abusing at least 85 boys across multiple countries. White, now a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, publicly recounted his traumatic experiences, which spanned his teenage years and involved incidents of manipulation and abuse at the hands of Gauntlett. 

 

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has since confirmed that he accepted Gauntlett’s resignation from the inquiry panel, and the General Council of the Bar (GCB) has referred the allegations to the Cape Bar and Johannesburg Society of Advocates for investigation. 

 

This development emerges while the judiciary grapples with yet another troubling case: Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge is currently facing a sexual harassment hearing involving allegations brought by a secretary in his division. 

 

Public Interest SA is deeply concerned by the persistent alleged abuse of power by senior members of the legal profession, individuals who are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and who must exemplify integrity. These cases not only undermine public confidence in the judiciary and the bar but also reflect a troubling culture of impunity that must be dismantled. 

 

While Gauntlett is presumed innocent, the gravity of the allegations cannot be ignored. His resignation from the bar should not serve as a shield from accountability. We call on the Legal Practice Council, as well as the Johannesburg and Cape bars, to ensure that the Bar of England and Wales is informed of these allegations. Gauntlett must be held to account, even if he may no longer be practicing in South Africa. 

 

Public Interest SA also urges the legal profession to take proactive steps to address the pervasive abuse of power within its ranks, including implementing stronger mechanisms to support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable, regardless of their stature. 

 

Sexual harassment and abuse are abhorrent and have no place in our society, least of all in institutions meant to serve justice. Public Interest SA stands with survivors and remains committed to fostering accountability, integrity, and justice in all sectors of society. 

 

ENDS

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For media inquiries, please contact: 

Bagaetsho Oteng

Media & Communications, Public Interest SA 

Phone: +27 (0) 10 0055884

 

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Issued by Public Interest SA 

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