A 66-year-old man will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday after he was arrested for allegedly paying boys to have sex with him.
David “Ta Pops” Dudley, formerly of Grassy Park, lives in Lansdowne and works as a panel beater in Ottery and surrounding areas.
The widowed father of two daughters was arrested on Monday on charges of rape and sexual assault after six boys, aged 9 to 12, broke their silence.
According to two of the boys, Dudley would pick them up at the old stables in George Way, drive them to secluded areas and give them drugs to get them erect.
They say he would then touch their penises, perform oral sex on them and make them do the same to him.
After that, the boys penetrated him anally until they ejaculated or until he was satisfied.
He then paid them anything from R36 to R300.
When asked to identify their attacker, a 10-year-old victim asked for a picture of the man with his back turned.
“Ek ken hom beter van agter af,” the boy said as he positively identified the man.
The five other boys could identify him, too.
Shocked community leaders were made aware of the situation last week and acted immediately.
Former Ward councillor Melanie Arendse says: “I heard rumours about a man using little boys in the flats, but we could never identify this man until now. These boys are from our poor communities and he lured them with money, spoiling them with things they do not get at home.”
Melanie says at a meeting last Thursday, more than 30 boys, aged 9 to 18, were identified by the community as victims.
According to the six boys, he would drive them out to Schaapkraal, Klip Road Cemetery or the Ottery Centre parking area in broad daylight to perform sexual acts with them.
The boys all live in the Ottery flats which are bordered by Edward, Eric, Frank and Hector roads. Dudley would apparently use clients’ vehicles to pick up the laaities.
One of the boys said it’s been happening to them for more than a year.
An uncle of one of the boys said he is shocked that his 10-year-old nephew was abused. “My nephew is traumatised and violated by this man and he has to pay for what he did,” he said.
Ottery community members said they will be protesting at Dudley’s court appearance.
“We feel there are more victims and hope they come forward. We will assist all the victims until this is done,” says Melanie, who can be contacted on 071 921 3807.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut, confirmed the arrest: “A 66-year-old male from Ottery was arrested on Monday afternoon on charges of rape and sexual assault.
“It is alleged that the accused lured boys into sexual deeds over a period of about a year. The suspect will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court.”