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My Only Story Season 2: Back to School is a podcast series and live investigation. This podcast discusses suicide and sexual abuse, and some people might find it troubling. If anything affects you while listening to this episode, please talk to someone. If you're in South Africa, you can phone the South African Depression and Anxiety Group on 0800 456 789.
Former pupils of under-fire school water polo coach David Mackenzie have come forward with allegations of inappropriate touching and intimidation.
"If I knew what I knew now back then, then I definitely would have spoken to someone or spoken up about it because it was inappropriate and it was wrong," says a former St Andrew's College (SAC) pupil who joined the school in Grade 8 in 2017.
In the third episode of My Only Story: Back to School podcast, a co-production of the non-profit company My Only Story and News24, we get exclusive insights into claims of Mackenzie's conduct as a teacher.
EXCLUSIVE | 'It was inappropriate, wrong' - David Mackenzie's touchy water polo tactics questioned
It's alleged that Mackenzie would often demonstrate water polo tactics by aggressively grabbing player's bathing suits and bodies.
"I've had coaches that have coached me in the pool and they… don't grab your costume at all."
This live investigation was sparked by the suicide of 16-year-old Thomas Kruger, a Grade 10 pupil at St Andrew's College in Makhanda at the time.
You can listen to the first two episodes of My Only Story: Season 2 here
In the past two weeks, the investigation has revealed a list of allegations of improper conduct against Mackenzie.
The inquiry revealed that the beleaguered teacher signed two boys out of the SAC sanatorium against school policy in 2018.
When he was due to face a disciplinary hearing for his misconduct, he abruptly resigned.
A month later, he was employed by Grey College in Bloemfontein and then at the start of 2021, he joined Reddam House Bedfordview in Johannesburg.
In an internal communiqué, the prestigious Gauteng school revealed that Mackenzie will face a disciplinary hearing on Friday for failing to declare the circumstances around his departure from St Andrew's College.
In the last 10 days, News24 has sent Mackenzie and his legal team two lists of questions seeking comment and offering him an opportunity to state his version of events. He has declined to comment thus far.
Alan Thompson – READ THE FULL RESPONSE FROM ST ANDREW’S HEADMASTER ALAN THOMPSONPlease continue sending us your stories and tip-offs. You can contact us, completely confidentially, at tips@24.com or message us on WhatsApp or Telegram on 071 382 7030
