Swimming coach accused of sexual abuse

By Gugu Mbonambi

A group of Durban parents who believe their children were molested by a well-known swimming coach have laid charges of sexual assault against the man.

The parents became suspicious and investigated after their children began to emulate adult sexual behaviour, allegedly learned during their swimming lessons.

Umbilo police Captain Russell Ndwandwe said six cases of sexual assault against children had been opened and are being investigated.

One parent said the swimming lessons had lasted about for 30 minutes and that her 4-year-old daughter had three lessons a week.

"We want other parents to be aware of what is happening to their children during the lessons," the woman said.

The parents said that when they enrolled their children at the swimming school, they had been led to believe that the lessons would be jointly run by the husband-and-wife team. However, the wife was generally absent during lessons.

Psychologist

"Every time I went to pick up my little girl after swimming lessons, only the husband was there and some parents told me they had seen the coach drying, changing and playing with our children," said another parent.

Jackie Branfield, founding director of Bobbie Bear, an organisation that deals with sexually abused children, said five children were brought to her organisation and she had referred them to a psychologist.

"I advised the parents to take their children to a psychologist I recommended. This is a very sensitive case because we are dealing with very little children and we don't want anything to jeopardise this case," she said.

Durban psychologist Rita Suliman said she had consulted the children and had been actively involved in the case since last week.

"Since my involvement in the matter, more parents have brought their children in," she said.

"I am dealing with children aged three and four years, so it is best to just wait and let the children talk and reveal what is being done to them on their own," she said.

Suliman advised parents with small children to watch for the following warning signs of abuse:

- When your child suddenly becomes sexually aware, it could mean that they have seen something sexually explicit or something is being done to them;

- If the child has passed the milestone of potty training and suddenly starts bed-wetting, this could be an indication of trauma if there is no medical explanation;

- Changes in the child's sleeping or eating patterns;

- If your child suddenly becomes clingy; and

- If a child shows reluctance to go to certain places.

"The most important thing to remember is that parents should not ignore the signs, no matter how young their child might be.

"But it is also important for parents to look at the facts and not just to jump to conclusions until there is enough evidence to prosecute the perpetrator," Suliman said.