SA paedophile coming home
2003-12-18 09:17
Wellington - A disabled man on a fund-raising walk around New Zealand said on Thursday he would leave the country in 24 hours after it emerged he did not tell authorities he has paedophile convictions.
Peter Geldenhuys, 62, has been in New Zealand since September raising money for eight-year-old South African cancer patient Joshua Goldman.
He failed to tell immigration officials he had convictions for indecently assaulting young girls and possessing pornographic material, including photographs of the children he had abused.
He was jailed for the crimes for two-and-a-half years in South Africa in 1987.
Geldenhuys told National Radio he was returning to South Africa on Friday.
The Immigration Service said it was taking the matter seriously and South African authorities were being contacted.
Walking with crutches, and wearing a T-shirt bearing the words "please help Joshua", Geldenhuys has travelled the country telling how in the past seven years he has walked 23 000 kilometres raising funds for sick children.
He has spoken at schools and churches, and met a number of New Zealand VIPs including Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Geldenhuys said he had not told Joshua's family about his convictions.
- AFP