No word on SA paedophile

2003-12-18 16:18

Pretoria - South African authorities had not been consulted by Thursday on the fate of a former citizen who reportedly admitted concealing child abuse convictions when he emigrated to New Zealand - where he was now raising money for an eight-year-old cancer patient.

Neither South Africa's foreign affairs department nor the police had yet been contacted in the matter.

The New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) earlier reported that Peter Geldenhuys admitted to a national newspaper having misled immigration officials to enter that country in September.

NZPA quoted the New Zealand Herald as saying Geldenhuys was convicted in South Africa of indecently assaulting young girls and possessing pornographic material, including photographs of his victims. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years in 1987.

The 62-year-old disabled man has in recent months been raising money for a South African boy, Joshua Goldman. His campaign involved walking around New Zealand on crutches, wearing a T-shirt with the words: "Please help Joshua".

His efforts have so far generated about NZ$4 000, the NZPA said.

Geldenhuys has claimed walking about 23 000km in the past seven years to raise funds for sick children.

He was staying with a family in Hamilton with young children, and has admitted withholding his criminal record from his hosts, the NZPA reported. He has also not told Goldman's family.

'Embarrassing'

"I know I should, but it is embarrassing," Geldenhuys was quoted as saying. "And if I keep bringing it up it will never go away."

He said he did not intend to abuse children again. "Maybe I am wrong, but I know it will never happen again. I am trying to show people that you can overcome your problems, I have made something of my life."

New Zealand immigration authorities were taking the matter "extremely seriously," and were contacting South African authorities and Interpol, NZPA said.

New Zealand High Commissioner to South Africa Warren Searell said the mission had a policy of not discussing personal matters, and he could therefore not comment.

He did say, however, that withholding convictions from immigration officials would not necessarily constitute an offence. Much depended on how long ago the offence was committed.

- SAPA