Cape Town lawyer found guilty of exploiting underage street kids
A Cape Town lawyer who sexually exploited street children, by paying them R100 for sexual deeds, has been found guilty on charges of statutory rape.
A paedophile lawyer from Cape Town has been found guilty on charges of statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a child, and engaging in sexual services of a person 18 years or older.
Theo Hartzenberg, a former Legal Aid lawyer from Muizenberg, was arrested three years ago and stood accused of preying on vulnerable boys living on the streets of the seaside community by paying them for improper sexual liaisons.
The 39-year-old legal scholar was found guilty on three of the 25 charges he faced at the Wynberg Regional Court.
BACKSTORY OF PEDOPHILE CAPE TOWN LAWYER CASE
The Muizenberg man’s sexual abuse was revealed in 2021 when parents of the victims came forward.
At the time, a family member of one of the victims told the Daily Voice that the group of boys visited Surfer’s Corner each day where they begged for money and met Hartzenberg.
The boys claimed that each day after sunset they would meet Hartzenberg at the beach where he would pay them R100 to have sex with him. These interactions took place between March and May in 2021.
Following his arrest, Hartzenberg appeared in the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court where he was released on R10 000 bail. The case was then moved to the Wynberg Regional Court.
A 21-year-old State witness [name redacted] testified that he knew Hartzenberg as the lawyer who lived in the Empire building and that he would serve as the “lookout” during Hartzenberg’s meet-ups with the victims.
According to the judgement, which was handed down on Wednesday, 28 February, Hartzenberg was found guilty on one charge of statutory rape, one count of exploitation and one count for paying an adult male for sex.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says sentencing procedures will commence at Wynberg Regional Court on 18 April.
Legal Aid spokesperson Boitumelo Boshupeng, says Hartzenberg handed in his resignation letter before the charges were brought against him.
Boshupeng confirms: “According to our records, Theo Hartzenberg resigned from Legal Aid SA long before these charges and court case were brought against him.
“We have no further comments regarding this matter.”